Original continuous bifolium leaves (four pages – two leaves) from a printed & hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Twenty-eight lines of ruled Latin text, printed in black on animal vellum. (Each: 178 x 115mm – 7 x 4 ½’’)
Numerous one and two-line illuminated initials in gold alternating on a red-orange or deep blue ground. One eight-line miniature painting of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary. Paris (Use of Rome), c. 1518.
Printed by Gilles Hardouyn & hand-painted in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - brother of the printer & a highly skilled illuminator. Noted for its DECORATIVE BORDERS - the paneled surrounds are historiated (containing identifiable scenes or figures) or inhabited forms.
The two-line illuminated “O” begins “Omnipotens…” (Almighty, everlasting God, who inspired the Blessed Mary, as she carried thy Son to visit Elizabeth; grant, we beseech Thee, that submitting to the inspiration of the Spirit, we may be able with her to magnify Thee always).
The two-line illuminated “I” begins: “Interveniat…” (O Lord Jesus Christ, we beseech Thee that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, whose most holy soul was pierced by the sword of sorrow in the hour of thy passion, may appeal for us to Thy clemency, now and at the hour of our death. Through Thee, Jesus Christ, Savior of the world…).
The miniature painting depicts Angel Gabriel with blue wings standing before the Virgin Mary with hands clasped in prayer and kneeling at a prie-dieu on which a book is propped. Angel Gabriel points upward to the Holy Spirit in the form of a radiant white dove. The text begins: “Salve…” (Hail, Holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth the King who rules heaven and earth, world without end. O Virgin Mother of God, He whom the whole world can not contain: Enclosed Himself in thy womb, and became a man…).
Presented in an archival 11 x 14'' mat
