Original leaf 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. (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 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).
The one-line illuminated “S” continues the Litany of the Saints (first prescribed by Pope Gregory in 590 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 on this leaf are: Saints Julian (early English martyr), Alban (first recorded British Christian martyr), Eusebius (martyred Irish Benedictine), Burinus (Apostle of Wessex), Mary Magdalene (patron of repentant sinners), and Editha (English saint and daughter of King Edgar).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
