Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)
Two two-line illuminated initial, eight one-line illuminated initials and eight 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 one-line illuminated “Q” begins Psalm 53 (King James 54) 5-9: “Quoniam…” (For strangers have risen up against me…For behold God is my helper: and the Lord is the protector of my soul. Turn back the evils upon my enemies; and cut them off in thy truth. I will freely sacrifice to thee, and will give praise, O God, to thy name: because it is good: For thou hast delivered me out of all trouble: and my eye hath looked down upon my enemies).
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).
The two-line illuminated “C” opens Psalm 106 (KJ 117): “Confitemini…” (Give glory to the Lord for he is good…).
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
