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 and one line extender 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, and 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 Sebastian (Patron Saint of soldiers and archers).
The rubrics announce the beginning of the Suffrages of Saint Anthony (founder of monasticism; Patron Saint of basket-makers, and invoked against ergotism (St. Anthony’s fire).
The two-line illuminated “D” begins: “Deus…” (O God, who granteth by the intercession of blessed Anthony thy confessor that the fire of illness be quenched…).
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
