Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 25 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in angular gothic book-hand script on animal vellum.(160 x 115mm – 6 ¼ x 4 ½’’)
Rubrics in red. Two two-line illuminated initials in white & gray acanthus on gold ground; one two-line illuminated initial in gold on blue ground. Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders in colorful floral and gemstone motif on deep blue or red ground.
Style and execution of the miniature paintings in the parent manuscript are closely related to the Master of the Geneva Latini (see Walter 224 & 233 for examples).
France: Rouen, (Use of Rouen) c. 1490-1510.
The text continues the First Gospel Lesson - John 1:12-14: “Eis potestatem…” (He gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth).
The two-line illuminated “P” begins: “Protector…” (O God, the Protector of all them that trust in thee, without Whom nothing is strong, nothing is Holy; increase and multiply upon us thy mercy, that Thou being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal).
The two-line illuminated “I” begins the Second Gospel Lesson (The Annunciation) – Luke 1: 26-34: “ In illo tempore…” (At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…).
The leaf is in excellent condition with extremely bold borders in an unusual motif. There is an unobtrusive cut in the blank margin parallel to the inner edge. Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
