Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink with rubrics in red. (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)
One exceptional five-line initial in blue & white on burnished gold ground with floral infill surrounded on top and side by floral border in red, green, blue and burnished gold; one two-line illuminated initial, nine one-line illuminated initials and four line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
The elaborate illuminated “D” begins the Hour of Matin: “Domine labia…” (Thou O Lord wilt open my lips. And my mouth shall declare thy praise. Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and forever shall be: world without end, Amen.
The two-line illuminated “V” opens Psalm 94 (King James 95): “Venite…” (Come let us praise the Lord with joy: let us joyfully sing to God our savior. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; and make a joyful noise to him with psalms).
The one-line illuminated “A” instructs the reader to recite the Hail Mary.
The one-line illuminated “Q” continues Psalm 94 (KJ 95): 3: “Quoniam…” (For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods…).
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat