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, thirteen 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 ''F'' begins Psalm 129 (King James 130) 2-8: ''Fiant...'' (Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication...From the morning watch even until night, let Israel hope in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities).
The two-line illuminated ''D'' begins Psalm 130 (KJ 131) complete: ''Domine...'' (Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters nor in wonderful things above me. If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul. Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now & forever). The two-line illuminated ''M'' begins the Hymn: ''Memento...'' (Remember, O creator Lord...).
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.
