c 1474-75 Continuous Bifolium Breviary Leaves Advent & Nativity

$0.00

Original continuous bifolium leaves from a medieval manuscript Breviary.  31 lines written in Latin in double columns with dark brown and red ink on animal vellum.  (Each leaf: 187 x 135mm – 7 3/8 x 5 ¼’’, overall size  7 3/8 x 10 1/2 inches))

This is the center pair of leaves from a signature, thus the text is continuous and can be read from the recto of the first leaf to the verso, then to the recto of the second leaf and finally to its verso. Scarce, because that can only happen on the center bifolium. The two joined leaves impart the feeling and appearance of an open medieval book !

France (Use of Autun), c. 1474-75.

Fourteen two-line illuminated initials alternating in red & white or blue & white, with a floral or geometric interior - all on a burnished gold ground, and all extending into the margin with a delicate rinceaux border in red, blue, green, yellow and  burnished gold.    

This leaf contains prayers and sermons for the end of Advent Season and opening of the Nativity.  The two-line illuminated “E” continues a sermon by Saint Augustine on the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The two-line illuminated “I” begins Matthew 11:2:   “In illo tempore…” (And at that time when John had heard in prison the works of Christ: sending two of his disciples he said to him: Art thou he that art to come, or look we for another?).   

The two-line illuminated “Q” begins a sermon on Advent by Saint Gregory the Great (and continues through the Illuminated “M”).

The two-line illuminated “V” begins “Veniet…” (The Lord will come and he will not delay. He will illumine what is hidden in darkness and reveal himself to all the nations). 

The two-line illuminated “A” begins¨ “Aurem…” (Incline thine ear to our prayers, we beseech thee, O Lord, and enlighten the darkness of our minds by the grace of thy visitation. Who livest and reignest). 

The two-line illuminated “E” begins the Nativity with Isaiah 19:8: “Et merebunt…” (The fishers also shall mourn…).

Provenance:  from a Breviary written for the Use of Autun c. 1474-75; property of the descendants of Sir William Forbes, 6th Baronet of Pitsligo (1739-1806) from the Library at Fettercairn House, Kindardineshire; sold at Sotheby’s London Dec 2016, subsequently dispersed.

Breviary is composed of many books (prayers, hymns, psalms...) painstakingly but carefully written by hand, and used by monks and priests to conduct their daily services.  The painted and illuminated manuscript is among the greatest artistic triumphs of the Middle Ages, demonstrating social, intellectual, religious and cultural attitudes of medieval life.

A lovely leaf in impeccable preservation from an elegant breviary of extremely high quality, beautifully scribed on fine thin vellum. The extensive red rubrics are visually appealing. 

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12810
Sold Out