Original leaf from an exceptional folio size medieval manuscript Bible. Two columns of forty lines, written in attractive rounded gothic hand. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials & marginalia in red & blue. (330x230mm)
Two two-line initials alternating in blue with red penwork & red with violet penwork.
Exceptional eight-line historiated initial containing a miniature painting of St. Jacob (James) - extending the length of the margin in blue, orange, gold, pink & white.
Southwestern France, c. 1300.
The illumination is in an unusual Provincial style – with the script showing Italian influences.
The historiated initial ''I'' begins the Epistle of St. James 1:1 – 3:8: ''Iacobus dei…'' (James the servant of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ…let every man be swift to hear, but slow to speak, and slow to anger…by works a man is justified; and not by faith only…).
Provenance: The parent book for this leaf was formerly in the collection of Sir Thomas Phillips and Sir Chester A. Beatty. The manuscript was sold at Sotheby’s in the Beatty Sale (24 June 1969) lot 57 and subsequently dissembled. Sister leaves appeared in Quaritch catalog 1036 and 1056 (1985).
Shipped in archival 20x16'' mat.
