Obsecre Te - Annunciation to Mary - c 1518 Book of Hours Leaf

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Original leaf from a printed & hand-illuminated Book of Hours.  Twenty-eight lines of ruled Latin text, printed in black on animal vellum.(178 x 115mm – 7 x 4 ½’’) 

Three illuminated two-line initials & two illuminated one-line initials in gold alternating on a red-orange or deep blue ground.  One eleven-line miniature painting of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary.

Printed by Gilles Hardouyn & hand-painted in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - brother of the printer & a highly skilled illuminator.  Paris (Use of Rome), c. 1518.

Noted for its DECORATIVE BORDERS - the paneled surrounds are historiated (containing identifiable scenes or figures) or inhabited forms.

The miniature painting depicts Angel Gabriel wearing a green robe with blue wings standing behind the Virgin Mary who wears robes in deep blue & turns with right hand raised from prie-dieu on which a book is propped. Angel Gabriel points back over his shoulder at the radiant white Dove with his left hand & carrying a scepter in right hand. 

The two-line illuminated “O” begins a popular prayer: “Obsecro te…” (I beseech thee, Lady Holy Mary, Mother of God, most full of piety, daughter of the Most High King, Mother most glorious, Mother of orphans, consolation of the desolate, way of the straying, health & hope of those hoping in thee, virgin before giving birth, virgin during birth, & virgin after giving birth…). 

The two-line “S” begins a 13th century prayer – Salve sancta facies – Hail Holy Face.  The second through fourth verse has been expunged at some time. The first verse remains untouched: (Hail holy face of our redeemer on which shines the appearance of divine splendor Impressed upon a little cloth of snowy radiance and given to Veronica as a standard of love).

Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11660
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