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’’)
Two illuminated two-line initials & numerous 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.
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 two-line illuminated “O” begins the Seven Prayers of St. Gregory on the Passion of the Lord: “O Domine…” (O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee hanging on the Cross, wearing a crown of thorns upon Thy head. I beg Thee that Thy Cross may free me from the deceiving Angel. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. O Lord Jesus, I adore Thee hanging wounded on the Cross, given vinegar and gall to drink. I beg Thee that Thy wounds may be the remedy of my soul. Amen. Our Father. Hail Mary. O Lord Jesus, I ask by the bitterness of Thy Passion, which Thou didst undergo in the hour of Thy death, so much so when Thy most holy soul left Thy blessed body…).
The miniature painting of The Annunciation to the Virgin Mary depicts the Angel Gabriel, with blue wings and wearing brown robes, appearing to the Virgin Mary who turns towards the Angel with right hand raised and left hand on an open book. The Holy Spirit, in form of a white dove is descending from above.
The text begins the Missus est Gabriel - the story of the Annunciation from Luke 1: “Missus…” (The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
