Book of Hours Leaf, c 1450-75 - Luke - The Annunciation

$0.00

Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’) 

One two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders on each side of the leaf contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.                                 

France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.

This leaf concludes the Second Gospel Lesson (the Annunciation) – Luke 1:30-38: “Et ait angelus…” (And the angel said to her:  Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God.  Behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bring forth a son; and thou shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the most High; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of David his father; and he shall reign in the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. And Mary said to the angel: How shall this be done, because I know not man? And the angel answering, said to her: The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the most High shall overshadow thee. And therefore also the Holy which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God…).  

The two-line illuminated “C” begins the Third Gospel Lesson – Matthew 2:1: “Cum natus esset…” (When Jesus was born).

Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12500
Sold Out