c 1240 Bible Leaf - Oxford - Matthew: Love thy neighbor

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Original leaf from an English manuscript pocket Bible. From a Bible illuminated at the workshop of William de Brailes - one of the few 13th century English illuminators known by name! (De Brailes maintained an active workshop at Oxford c. 1238-52. He was illuminator of the Oxford Bible). (185 x 135 mm - 7.4 x 5.4") 

Written with brown ink in Latin gothic script on animal vellum. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials & marginalia in red & blue. 54 lines of text in double columns (10 lines per inch!).

For sister leaf see Blackburn Collection, Cleveland Museum of Art, pl. 4.     

Produced in Oxford, c. 1240 A.D.

This leaf contains Matthew 22:12 - 24:29: “Et ait ille...” (And he saith to him:  Friend, how camest thou in hither not having on a wedding garment...Many are called, but few are chosen...Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God, the things that are God's...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart, and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole mind.  This is the greatest and the first commandment.  And the second is like to this:  Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself...Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be pestilences, and famines, and earthquakes in places...),

The back (verso) contain a scribal omission added in the marginthese omissions are surrounded by a blue box indicating that the “transcription had been systematically checked for accuracy” (De Hamel, Scribes and Illuminators, p. 43).

An excellent and very desirable example of the work of a notable 13th century medieval English scriptorium. The content is important and readily recognizable, written by a master scribe. Extensive marginalia and the "correction" box add to the appeal of this leaf.

Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11118
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