Book of Hours Leaf - Syon Abbey, England - c 1440

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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 two-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, red, 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, likely by a member of the Bridgettine Order).  

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.

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. 

Line one continues First Prayer: “Da mihi queso…” (O Lord God, I beseech Thee, in memory of all these pains and sufferings which Thou didst endure before Thy Passion on the Cross, grant me before my death true contrition, a sincere and entire Confession, worthy satisfaction, and the remission of all my sins. Amen).

The two-line illuminated “O” begins Second Prayer: “O Jesu mundi…” (O Jesus! Creator of Heaven and earth Whom nothing can encompass or limit, Thou Who dost hold the earth in the palm of Thy hand, remember the very bitter pain Thou didst suffer when the Jews nailed Thy Sacred Hands to the Cross with the first blunt nail, and perforated Thy delicate Feet, and not finding Thee in a pitiable enough state to satisfy their rage, they enlarged Thy Wounds, and added pain to pain..).

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11950
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