Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 24 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in an elegant angular gothic book-hand script on animal vellum; rubrics in red. (178 x 125mm – 7 x 5’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials, sixteen one-line illuminated initials and eight illuminated line-extenders in gold on red or blue ground.
France: Rouen, (Use of Rouen) c. 1470-90.
Unusual vibrant and elaborate panel borders on recto and verso in colorful floral and geometric motif in red, green, blue and white on gold ground.
The one-line illuminated “S” begins Psalm 99 (King James 100) 3-5: “Scitote…” (Know ye that the Lord he is God: he made us, and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Go ye into his gates with praise, into his courts with hymns: and give glory to him. Praise ye his name: for the Lord is sweet, his mercy7 endureth forever and his truth to generation and generation).
The two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 62 (KJ 63) complete: “Deus…” (O God, my God, to thee do I watch at break of day. For thee my soul hath thirsted; for thee my flesh, O how many ways! In a desert land, and where there is no way, and no water: so in the sanctuary have I come before thee, to see thy power4 and thy glory…).
The next two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 66 (KJ 67) 1-5: “Deus…” (May God have mercy on us and bless us: may he cause the light of his countenance to shine upon us, and may he have mercy on us. That we may know thy way upon earth: thy salvation in all nations. Let people confess to thee, O God let all people give praise to thee…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
