Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 12 lines of ruled text, written in Latin with dark brown ink in lettre batarde script on animal vellum. (133 x 90mm – 5 ¼ x 3 ½’’)
Ten one-line illuminated initials alternating in blue and white, and red and white on a sepia ground with delicate gold penwork; text surrounded on three sides by a burnished gold bar.
France (Paris?), c. 1485
This leaf begins the Hours of the Virgin – Hour of Terce. The one-line illuminated “S” begins Psalm 121 (King James 122) 2-9: “Stantes…” (Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbors, I spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
