Original leaf from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Twenty-eight lines of ruled Latin text, printed in red & black on animal vellum. (178 x 115mm – 7 x 4 ½’’)
Initials illuminated by hand in gold, on grounds of blue or sepia with delicate gold penwork. The paneled surrounds are historiated or inhabited. Printed by Gilles Hardouyn & hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - brother of the printer & a highly skilled illuminator. Paris (Use of Rome), c. 1518.
The full page illumination depicts the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.
The scene is set within a room with gray stone walls, having a red, green and white marble floor. The Virgin Mary is propped with a red pillow atop a gold and red-covered bed. The lit taper in the Virgin’s hand is supported by one of the Apostles. Others surround the bed. The Virgin Mary is seen ascending to heaven above the bed within a red mandorla with golden flames. Through the open door is seen part of a town on a hill.
The three-line illuminated “C” opens the Hours of the Virgin – Hour of Compline “Converte…” (Convert us O God our savior. And avert thine ire from us. Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me…).
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
