Original leaf from a medieval manuscript folio Bible with illuminations from the Johannes Grusch Workshop. France: Paris, c. 1247. Formerly owned by the Royal Abbey of St. Genevieve in Paris.
Latin gothic script, hand-written in brown ink, on animal vellum. (290 x 190 mm - 11.6 x 7.6")
Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 50 lines of text in double columns. Three multi-line initials alternating in red and blue with intricate red & blue scrollwork that extends along the length of the text.
The large size of the page is unusual in 13th century Bible production!
This leaf contains text from II Kings (King James Version: II Samuel) 9:2 – 12:4 (DAVID & BATHSHEBA): “Erat autem…” (Now there was of the house of Saul, a servant named Siba…David arose from his bead after noon, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and he saw from the roof of his house a woman washing herself, over against him: and the woman was very beautiful. And the king sent, & inquired who the woman was. And it was told him, that she was Bathsheba…and David sent messengers & took her, and she came in to him, and he slept with her…she returned to her house having conceived…Writing in the letter: Set ye Uriah in the front of the battle, where the fight is strongest…The archers shot their arrows at thy servants from off the wall above: and some of the king’s servants are slain, and thy servant Uriah the Hethite is also dead…The Lord sent Nathan to David…).
Presented in an archival 16x12'' mat
