Two Book of Hours Leaves c 1450 - Bifolium - For English Market

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Original bifolium leaves (two leaves, four pages – continuous) from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 18 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink & red rubrics in fine gothic script on animal vellum. (Bifolium leaves – each 158 x 112mm – 6 ¼ x 4 3/8’’) 

One five-line and three two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on red & blue ground with delicate white penwork; twenty-four illuminated one-line initials alternating in deep blue with delicate red penwork & burnished gold with delicate violet penwork.

Flanders (Use of Sarum), c. 1450 – produced to follow the English rites, for the English market. The Litany of the Saints from this book listed several Saints associated with Britain, including George (patron of Britain), Swithin (Bishop of Westminster), Eusebius (martyred Irish Benedictine), Burinus (Apostle of Wessex), and Julian (early English Martyr).

This leaf continues the Litany of the Saints (first prescribed by Pope Gregory in 590 for a public thanksgiving following a plague that ravaged Rome).

The one-line illuminated “U”   begins: “Ut oculos…” (That it may please thee to look upon us with eyes of mercy…Lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world, spare us O Lord…Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us…).

The two-line illuminated “D” begins:  “Deus…” (O God, Whose property is always to have mercy and to spare, receive our petition; that we and all Thy servants who are bound by the chain of sin may, by the compassion of Thy goodness mercifully be absolved).

The five-line illuminated “I” begins: “In…” (Show with clemency O Lord thy unspeakable mercy unto us: that thou both acquit us of our sins and deliver us from the pains, which for them we deserve).

Presented in an archival 11 x 14'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11614
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