Original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible with illuminations from the Johannes Grusch Atelier. Latin gothic minuscule script, ruled in red and written in brown ink, on animal vellum. (150 x 100 mm - 6 x 4"). Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 44 lines of text in double columns (12 lines per inch!).
Produced in Paris, c. 1240-50.
The five-line inhabited initial “C” contains a whimsical dragon and begins the Prologue for the Book of Colossians.
The historiated initial “P” contains a six-line figure of the Apostle Paul holding a sword, continues along the side of the page with a zoomorphic extender, and opens The Epistle of St. Paul to the Colossians 1:1 – 2:4: “Paulus…” (Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ…knowledge of the mystery of God the Father and of Christ Jesus: In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom & knowledge. Now this I say, that no man may deceive you by loftiness of words). Recto continues
The Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians 3:3-4:23: “Gloriamur in Christo…” (Glory in Christ Jesus…The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen).
The book from which this leaf came was a very high-quality production, scribed in the Johannes Grusch Workshop in Paris. Other leaves from this same book were exhibited in the Jeanne Blackburn Collection at the Cleveland Art Museum (pl. 7 & 8).
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
