Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red-ruled, Latin text, written with dark brown ink in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum.(127 x 92mm).
One three-line illuminated initial in blue on a burnished gold ground with a floral interior design in red, orange and blue; one two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on blue and pink ground extending into the margin with a delicate rinceaux design in burnished gold and blue; five one-line illuminated initials in blue with red penwork.
Northern France (Paris), c. 1420-30.
Miniature painting (68x45mm) illuminated by a master of the Boucicaut School depicting The meeting at the Golden Gate: Joachim and Anne. The parents of the Virgin Mary meet at the Golden Gate of Jerusalem after Anne discovers she is pregnant. They embrace with joy beneath the archway. The angel, with red-tipped wings, who informed Anne of her pregnancy, stands to their side.
The miniature is surrounded by text-frame bars on three sides in blue, pink and burnished gold with full borders of foliage with multi-colored acanthus-leaf sprays at corners. Two trees are in the foreground, and another tree set against a colored and gold tessellated background.
The three-line illuminated ''D'' begins: ''Domine...'' (Lord, Thou shalt open my lips...).
Provenance: Sotheby's - ex G. Barilla of Geneva, and formerly Frederick Fowler collection (England c. 1820's)
Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.
