Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink & red rubrics in fine Gothic script on animal vellum.
Three illuminated two-line initial in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. Beautiful floral border (verso) with strawberries (symbol of perfect righteousness) and a bird resting on a leaf in blue, red, green and liquid gold.
France (likely Paris), c. 1440-60
The two-line illuminated “D” begins the Hours of the Cross – Hour of Prime: “Deus in…” (Incline unto my aid O God…). The two-line illuminated “H” begins: “Hora prima…” (They our Lord to Pilate led at the hour of prime, And by witnesses full false accused much of crime, His hands tied they him beat with fist in great despite, They upon God’s face do spit the heaven’s grateful light…).
The two-line illuminated “D” (verso) begins: “Domine…” (O Lord Jesus Christ the son of the living God, set thy passion, cross, and death between thy judgment and my soul, now, and in the hour of my death and vouchsafe to grant unto me grace and mercy: to the living and the dead rest and pardon: to thy Church peace and concord, and to us sinners life and glory everlasting…).
Books of Hours are personal prayer books of a devout and status-conscious society and are not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time. They reveal a unique combination of sacred and secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience, which could both appreciate and afford them.
A beautiful leaf is superb condition. The elegant border painting is of the highest quality.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
