Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 14 lines, of red-ruled Latin in dark brown ink, written in fine gothic script on animal vellum. (103 x 73mm – 4 x 2 3/8’’)
One three-line illuminated initial in burnished gold with an interior of red with white penwork all on a deep blue ground with white penwork – extending into the margin top and bottom with a delicate floral design in burnished gold, green and brown; two one-line illuminated initials alternating in gold with violet penwork and blue with red penwork; one line extender in deep blue.
England, c. 1440 (likely Syon Abbey, by a member of the Bridgettine Order).
The Bridgettine (or Brigittine) Order was a monastic religious order of Augustinian nuns. The Bridgettine monastery of Syon Abbey, Ipswich, Middlesex was founded and royally endowed by Henry V in 1415 and became one of the richest and most influential religious communities in England until its dissolution under Henry VIII.
This leaf continues the Prayers of St. Bridget (or The Fifteen Oos). The fifteen prayers were for a long time attributed to St. Bridget of Sweden (1303-73) and foundress of Brigittines. Today they are considered to have been composed in the 15th century by English mystics of the Brigittine order. The prayers are a tender meditation on Christ’s passion and death and were very popular during the Middle Ages.
The two-line illuminated “O” begins The Sixth Prayer: “O Ihus rex amabilis…” (O Jesus! Beloved and most desirable King, remember the grief Thou didst suffer, when naked and miserable Thou didst hang upon the Cross, and when all Thy relatives and friends abandoned Thee and Thou didst not find any consolation, except in Thy Beloved Mother, who didst remain loyal to Thee during Thy agony and whom Thou didst entrust to Thy disciple when Thou saidst: "Woman, behold Thy Son!"…).
English manuscript Books of Hours are very uncommon. In 1533 Henry VIII decreed that books relating to the practices of the Church of Rome should be destroyed. Most of the remaining examples were held secretly in private hands.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
