Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 22 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum. (160x103mm)
Rubrics in red & line ending in red with liquid gold infill. One illuminated two-line initial in white on gold ground.
Northern France, c. 1510-20.
Elaborate panel borders in geometric shapes with acanthus & floral motifs (including strawberries – symbol of perfect righteousness), and a bird (center right) who turns back to look at St. Luke – all on liquid gold or blue ground (recto) & liquid gold & red (verso).
Ten-line miniature painting of St. Luke: Luke is shown in profile seated while writing his gospel on a lectern. His attribute the Ox with red wings watches him. This miniature is by the Master Jean Coene (also known as the Master of the Paris Entries), a prolific artist who was active in Paris for the French court under Louis XII and Francis I, and also collaborated with the workshop of the Master Jean Pichoire. Coene’s quick painting technique and the careful finish of his miniatures led him to be one of the most successful artists for a high-ranking clientele in early sixteenth-century Paris.
The two-line “I” begins The Gospel Lesson from Luke: - Luke 1: 26-35: “In illo…” (At that time, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David; and the virgin’s name wa Mary. And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women…”.
Presented in an archival 14x11'' mat
