c 1450-75 Book of Hours leaf - Beautiful border - Psalm

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Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink.  (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)

One two-line illuminated initial, eleven one-line illuminated initials, and one illuminated line-extender in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers (including columbines – symbol of the Holy Spirit), berries (including strawberries – symbol of perfect righteousness), and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.  

Catchword “me” written verso in lower margin (first word of the following page – to help binder place pages in correct order).     

France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.

The two-line illuminated “Q” begins Psalm 41 (King James 42) 1-9: “Quemadmodum…” (As the hart panteth after the fountains of water; so my soul panteth after thee, O God. My soul hath thirsted after the strong living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? My tears have been my bread day and night, whilst it is said to me daily: Where is thy God. These things I remembered, and poured out my soul in me: For I shall go over into the place of the wonderful tabernacle, even to the house of God: With the voice of joy and praise; the noise of one feasting…).

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.

 

  • Inventory# IM-12706
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