Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 21 lines, ruled in red, written in Dutch with dark brown ink on animal vellum. Versal initials alternating in red & blue. (175 x 125mm – 6 7/8 x 4 7/8’’)
The Netherlands: Delft, c. 1475.
Three-quarter illuminated borders (recto) in block group design in red & blue penwork, arranged along the left side and across part of the top and bottom – an excellent example of the highpoint of the penmanship for which Delft manuscripts were famous. The feature in a sister leaf of the emblematic border in the form of figures with banderoles, relating in some didactic way to subjects of the text, points to a unique group of prayer books produced in Delft and likely the Workshop of the Convent of St. Agnes. (For sister leaf, see Cleveland Museum of Art, Blackburn Collection, #55).
The four-line illuminated “G” begins: “God wilt…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me…).
The five-line illuminated “I” begins Psalm 125 (King James 126) complete: “In dien…” (When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion, we became like men comforted. Then was our mouth filled with gladness; and our tongue with joy…).
The Dutch (Low Countries) were the first to break the tradition of using Latin in Prayer Books and Books of Hours. In England, France and Italy, Latin continued to be the primary liturgical language throughout the 1400’s.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
