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’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials and one one-line illuminated 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.
This leaf continues the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The two-line illuminated “S” begins Lesson I: “Sancta Maria…” (Holy Virgin Mary, mother of virgins and daughter of the king of all kings, bestow your consolation on us that through you we might deserve to have the reward of the heavenly kingdom. Have mercy on us).
The red “R” begins “Sancta et…” (Holy and immaculate virginity, I do not know what praise to shower you, because you bore in your womb he whom the heavens could not contain). The red “V” begins: “Benedicta…” (Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb…).
The two-line illuminated “S” begins Lesson II : “Sancta Maria…” (Holy Mary, most pious of the pious…).
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
