Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red 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 contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, & burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
This leaf continues the section of Suffrages - prayers to saints who were considered the protectors, helpers and guardians of medieval people. The text continues the Suffrages of Saint Anthony (founder of monasticism; Patron Saint of basket-makers, and invoked against ergotism (St. Anthony’s fire) “et egris membris…” (and coolness be present for sick limbs, make us, we beseech, by his favors and prayers free from the fires of hell, and cause us to be presented whole in mind and body to thee happily in glory).
The rubrics announce the beginning of the Suffrages of Irish St. Fiacre (Patron Saint of gardeners, and florists). St. Fiacra (d. 670) was originally a monk at Kilfiachra, Ireland, and renowned especially for his skill in horticulture.
The next rubrics announce the Suffrages of St. Nicholas “Amicus…” (Nicholas, the friend of God, adorned by a priestly fillet, showed himself loving to all…).
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.
