Original leaf from a Book of Hours. Red-ruled for 18 lines of Latin text, written with dark brown ink in gothic liturgical book-hand on animal vellum. (173 x 130mm – 6 ¾ x 5 1/8’’)
One six-line illuminated initial in liquid gold on a pink and gold ground, with a floral interior in pink and green, on blue ground; four three-line initial in blue with white penwork on a highly burnished gold ground with a pink interior; three one-line illuminated initials in gold on blue and red grounds; border (verso) rinceaux style with blue acanthus, red flowers and strawberries; border (recto) in trompe l’oeil with silver-grey acanthus, flowers, strawberries, white snail and a bird (looking directly at the viewer, lower right) on a deep green ground.
Flanders (probably Bruges), c. 1480.
Text opens Hours of the Holy Spirit – Hour of Matins: “Domine…” (Thou O Lord wilt open my lips. And my mouth shall declare thy praise…).
The three-line illuminated “N” begins “Nobis…” (The grace of the Holy Spirit free unto us befall: Wherewith was overshadowed the maid of maidens all. When the angel Gabriel his salutation said: The Word itself flesh became and virgin fruitful made. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful, And kindle in them the fire of your love).
Provenance: Probably painted in Bruges, circa 1480’s, on the basis of comparison with borders in related manuscripts, especially Paris, Biblioteque Nationale, MS fr. 192, made for Louis of Bruges, and London British Library, Royal MS 15 E III, dated 1482, both discussed and illustrated in Durrieu, La Miniature flamande, pls. LXIII, LXIV.
Reference: A sister leaf (Opening the Hours of the Virgin at Nones) is pictured and described by Dr. Sandra Hindman in Ferrini. "Important Western Medieval Manuscripts", 1987, Catalog Nr.101.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
