Original leaf from a printed & hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Ruled Latin text (French beneath side panels) printed in black on animal vellum. (168 x 105mm - 6.7 x 4.2") .
Initials & line-endings illuminated by hand in gold, blue and/or red. Noted for its DECORATIVE BORDERS - the paneled surrounds are historiated or inhabited forms - executed by Philippe Pigouchet. Published by Simon Vostre in Paris (Use of Rouen) c. 1506.
The side panels include harvesting fruit.
This leaf continues the Suffrages of the Saints. Suffrages attest to the deep personal connection between saints and ordinary people. Interior panels depict Saints Barbara (patron saint of architects) and Apollonia (patron saint of dentists).
At St. Barbara begins: "De sancta Barbara...." (Of Saint Barbara. Rejoice, blessed Barbara, greatly powerful in doctrine by the mystery of the angel. Rejoice, virgin, pleasing to God, thou who didst imitate baptism in the course of thy life. Rejoice because Christ hath visited thee in life and healed thy wounds by his own act...).
At St. Apollonia: ''De Sancta Apolonia...'' ( Of Saint Apollonia. Blessed Apollonia who endured severe torture...).
Books of Hours are personal prayer books of a devout & status-conscious society - not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time. They reveal a unique combination of sacred secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience that could both appreciate & afford them.
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
