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’’)
Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders in colorful floral and gemstone motif on liquid gold or rich sable ground – fabulous whimsical dragon-like creature (verso) munching on the acanthus leaves!
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.
This leaf continues the popular medieval prayer Obsecro te: “ amorem et humilitatem…” (love and humility by which the Son of God descended to accept human flesh in thy most venerable womb and which He saw in thee when He commended thee to St. John the apostle and evangelist, and when He exalted thee over the choirs of angels, and through that holy ineffable humility with which thou didst respond to the Archangel Gabriel, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done according to thy word." And I beseech thee through those most holy fifteen joys that thou didst have in thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and through that holy, great compassion and most bitter sorrow thou didst have when thou didst see our Lord Jesus Christ nude, lifted upon the cross, hanging, crucified, wounded, thirsty, served gall, heard Him cry out, and then saw Him die. And through the five wounds of thy Son, through the contraction of His flesh because of the great pain of His wounds, through the sorrow thou didst have when thou didst see Him wounded, through the fountains of His blood, through all His passion…).
Excellent content and Lovely condition wth fresh bright colors and gold.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat.
