Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 12 lines of ruled text, written in Latin with dark brown ink & red rubrics in lettre batarde script on animal vellum. (133 x 90mm – 5 ¼ x 3 ½’’)
One three-line illuminated initial, one two-line illuminated initial in deep blue and white on a sepia ground with delicate gold penwork; six one-line illuminated initials alternating in blue and white, and red and white on a sepia ground with delicate gold penwork; text surrounded on three sides by a burnished gold bar. Delicate rinceaux border (recto) in red, blue, brown and green with burnished and brushed gold. Within the border is a strawberry (symbol of perfect righteousness), and three birds – one resting on a branch in the left margin, one on a branch in the right margin, and one landing on a branch in the lower margin!
France (Paris?), c. 1485
This leaf begins the Hours of the Virgin – Hour of Vespers. The three-line illuminated “D” begins: “Deus…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be world without end. Amen).
The two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 109 (King James 110) 1-4: “Dixit Dominus…” (The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool. The Lord will send forth the scepter of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies. With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
