Book of Hours leaf c 1450 - Guide Letters - Sarum Use

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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’’) 

Two 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 two-line illuminated “I” begins Psalm 30 (King James 31) 6: “In manus tuas…” (Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of Truth).

This is the final unfinished leaf of this section of this Book of Hours.  A prayer follows the Psalm with three guide letters  ("m", "a", "o") indicating where illuminated initials were to be placed.  Written by a different scribe, the prayer is taken from Luke, Chapter 1 and begins: “[M]issus est angelus…” (The Angel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary, espoused to Joseph announcing to her the word Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.  Let us pray. ..).

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12199
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