Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. Red-ruled for 14 lines of text, written in Latin with dark brown ink in lettre bâtarde script on animal vellum.(108 x 78mm)
One three-line initial in blue with white tracery and surrounded with a floral motif in blue and green on a liquid gold ground. The panel border contains an intricate floral moptif with acanthus leaves and two birds in blue, red, pink, green and liquid gold.
Northern France or Flanders, c. 1460-80.
The miniature painting depicts St. John on Patmos: St. John is seated wearing a deep blue robe with gold, facing right, and writing on a white scroll; the golden eagle symbol is on his left. The text is the opening of the Gospel according to John: ''In pricipio...'' (In the beginning was the Word). The inspiration of Jesus Christ is shown by the golden rays descending over St. John. The edge of the island is seen in the lower left and lush grass and tree in the background.
This leaf begins the First Gospel Lesson with John 1:1-8 ''In principio...'' (In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him: & without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, & the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, & the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light that all men might believe through him...).
Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat
