Medieval Bible Leaf - c 1260 - Man liveth not by bread alone...

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A lovely original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. In Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, ruled in red & written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum. (156 x 103 mm - 6.2 x 4.1"). 

Rubricated chapter numbers; two multi-lined illuminated Lombard style initials &elegant marginal penwork in red & blue. Calligraphy is excellent, & the vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin & smooth. The gothic text is written in remarkably tiny (ten lines of text to the inch!) & very well formed letters.

This leaf contains Luke 2:35 – 4:10: (JESUS IN THE TEMPLE; CHRIST’S BAPTISM; TEMPTATION IN THE DESERT)  “Et tuam…” (And thy own soul a sword shall pierce…And Jesus said to them: How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my father’s business?…John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I …he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, & with fire…Jesus also being baptized & praying, heaven was opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; & a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased…[Jesus] was tempted by the devil…If thou be the Son of God, say to this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him: It is written, that Man liveth not by bread alone, but by every word of GodThou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve…).

Provenance: parent book was s “portable” Bible of the Crusades period, used in study of theology or preaching of the Gospel. It was in England by 17th cent; ex coll. Lord Saltoun & later in the collection of Wm Foyle (1885-1963) at Beeligh Abbey. The bible containing this leaf was very high-quality, illuminated in Paris & similar to work associated by Branner with the Dominican Painter (see R. Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during the Reign of Saint Louis).

Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat            

  • Inventory# IM-7369
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