Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 22 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum. (160x103mm)
Northern France, c. 1510-20.
Rubrics in red & line ending in red with liquid gold infill. One illuminated two-line initial in gold on a blue ground with white penwork; twelve illuminated one-line initials in gold alternating on red and blue ground with gold penwork. Original stitching holes evident in margin where the vellum separated when originally prepared!
Elaborate panel borders with acanthus & floral motifs on liquid gold ground. The border, verso, includes a wonderful whimsical creature playing a musical instrument!!
From the workshop of Jean Coene (also known as the Master of the Paris Entries), a prolific artist who was active in Paris for the French court under Louis XII and Francis I, and also collaborated with the workshop of the Master Jean Pichoire. Coene’s quick painting technique and the careful finish of his miniatures led him to be one of the most successful artists for a high-ranking clientele in early sixteenth-century Paris.
The two-line “Q” begins Psalm 41 (King James 42): 1-8: “Quemadmodum…” (As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God…).
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
