Medieval Book of Hours Leaf - Praise the Lord all ye nations

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Original leaf from an exceptionally large and costly medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 14 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink in gothic script on animal vellum. (210 x 145mm).

Two two-line illuminated initials and seven one-line illuminated initials and four illuminated line-extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork.  The miniature paintings from this book were painted in the style of the Master of the Harvard Hannibal. Northern France, c. 1430.

The one-line illuminated ''A'' begins Psalm 84 (King James 85) 11-14 with a scribal error: the ''A'' should be an ''M'' and begin the abbreviation for Misericordia: ''Aia...'' (Mercy and truth have met each other:  justice and peace have kissed.  Truth is sprung out of the earth: and justice hath looked down from heaven.  For the Lord will give goodness: and our earth shall yield her fruit.  Justice shall walk before him: and shall set his steps in the way).   

The two-line illuminated ''L'' begins Psalm 116 (KJ 117) complete: ''Laudate...'' (O praise the Lord all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.  For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth forever).

Books of Hours are personal prayer books of a devout and status-conscious society and are not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time. They reveal a unique combination of sacred and secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience that could both appreciate and afford them.

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-10763
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