Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red-ruled French text, in dark brown ink, on animal vellum. (197 x 138mm – 7 ¾ x 5 3/8’’)
Northern France (Paris), c. 1450.
Large miniature painting (115 x 110mm – 4 ½ x 4’’) depicting the Ptolemaic view of the Universe and the Seven Planetary Metals: The center represents earth with a combined palm and olive tree on a grassy island in the sea. The rings are in gold, oxidized silver and colors – each with the alchemical symbols of the seven planetary metals and planetary symbols at the top and to the right & left. From earth outward: Silver dominated by the Moon; Mercury (quicksilver) dominated by Mercury; Copper dominated by Venus; Gold dominated by the Sun; Iron dominated by Mars; Tin dominated by Jupiter and Lead dominated by Saturn. In the corners four wind gods are shown on a deep blue ground. Top and bottom have delicate rinceaux borders in blue, red, yellow and gold.
Verso contains a 15-line poem in French with three gold initials on a deep blue ground with rinceaux border top and bottom.
This is a very rare depiction - seldom seen in medieval manuscript from a book of hours. It represents the medieval concept of the universe before Copernicus' model with the sun at the center of the "solar system". SIgnificant wear and staining, but nonetheless unusual and desirable.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
