Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 24 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in an elegant angular Gothic book-hand script on animal vellum; rubrics in red.(178 x 125mm – 7 x 5’’)
One two-line illuminated initial, twenty one-line illuminated initials and twelve illuminated line-extenders in gold on red or blue ground.
France: Rouen, (Use of Rouen), c. 1470-90.
Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders on recto and verso in colorful floral and geometric motif in red, green, blue and white on gold ground.
The two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 26 (King James 27) 1-10: “Dominus illuminatio…” (The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life: of whom shall I be afraid? Whilst the wicked draw near against me, to eat my flesh. My enemies that trouble me, have themselves been weakened, and have fallen. If armies in camp should stand together against me, my heart shall not fear. If a battle should rise up against me, in this will I be confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord, this will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. That I may see the delight of the Lord, & may visit his temple. For he hath hidden me in his tabernacle; in the days of evils, he hath protected me in the secret place of his tabernacle. He hath exalted me upon a rock: and now he hath lifted up my head above my enemies. I have gone round, and have offered up in his tabernacle a sacrifice of jubilation: I will sing, and recite a psalm to the Lord…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
