c 1230-40 Bible Leaf - Jonah in Whale - Christ in Majesty

$6,800.00

Original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible with illuminations from the Leber Group. Latin gothic minuscule script, hand-written in brown ink, on animal vellum. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 49 lines of text in double columns (12 lines per inch!) (146 x 104 mm - 5.8 x 4.2").

For sister leaves, see The Blackburn Collection – Cleveland Museum of Art, #s 5&6; also ref. Branner 1977, 61, 208-9; figs. 12, 105-10.

Paris, c. A.D. 1230-40.

The historiated twelve+ line initial ''S'' depicts Jonah in the mouth of the whale and Christ in Majesty. This initial is illuminated in blue and white on a ground of deep blue & mauve with internal paintings in gray, red, mauve, gold & yellow; the initial extends into the center of the margin along the length of the text and out the top right of the page.

The first red ''D'' continues Psalm 67 (King James 68):15-36: ''Dum…'' (When he that is in heaven…).

The historiated initial begins Psalm 68 (KJ 69) complete: ''Salvum…'' (Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul…).

The two-line illuminated “D” (verso) begins Psalm 69 (KJ 70) complete: ''Deus…'' (O God, come to my assistance…).

Psalm 70 (KJ 71)1-22 begins at the top of column two, verso: ''In te…'' (In thee, O Lord, I have hoped…).

A majestic portable bible leaf from one of the best and least often encountered Parisian workshops. The very fine and dramatic initial opening Psalm 68 is much larger than usual. Excellent state of preservation, with five tiny holes in the blank margins of the leaf.

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-3614