Original leaf from a medieval illuminated 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. (158 x 112mm – 6 ¼ x 4 3/8’’)
Thirty-six illuminated one-line initials alternating in deep blue with delicate red penwork and 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 manuscript 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). The listing for Saint George is on this leaf.
The one-line illuminated “S” continues the Litany of the Saints (first prescribed by Pope Gregory in 590 ad for a public thanksgiving following a plague that ravaged Rome). “Names of saints are listed with each invocation followed by the abbreviation for “ora pro nobis” (Pray for us).
Among the saints listed are: Saints Andrew (patron of Scotland), Matthew (patron of accountants), Thaddeus (aka St. Jude – patron of lost causes), Sebastian (patron of archers), George (patron of Britain), and Augustine (patron of theologians).
A beautifully scribed leaf, with significant eye appeal.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
