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 four-line historiated initial in blue, red & white with an internal painting on burnished gold, eleven one-line illuminated initials & two illuminated line-extenders in burnished gold on red & blue ground with delicate white penwork.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
The elaborate full border (verso) is a dense floral motif in red, blue, pink, green, liquid & burnished gold, with one human with a cat face holding a bow (left margin), and an amusing mythical creature standing with his front legs up against an acanthus branch (lower margin). Panel border (recto) contains a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, & acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, & burnished gold.
The historiated initial depicts The Flight into Egypt. The Virgin Mary, wearing a blue robe, holds the deep-rose and gold swaddled Christ Child while sitting on a donkey as they journey down a road. Joseph, wearing deep rose and blue robes, walks behind. Hillscape with tower is seen in the background.
The historiated “D” begins the Hour of Vespers: “Deus…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me…).
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
