Medieval Book of Hours Leaf c 1460 - In Dutch - Great Borders

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Original leaf from a medieval Book of Hours.  19 lines of ruled text, written in medieval Dutch with dark brown ink in fine Gothic script, on animal vellum.(170 x 120mm – 6 5/8 x 4 ¾’’) 

One illuminated five-line initial in burnished gold  with an interior  floral design in pink, orange green  and gold on a blue ground and all resting on a pink ground with delicate white penwork; two two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold  with a pink or blue interior and on a blue or pink ground; ten illuminated one-line initials  alternating in red and blue.  Recto has a three-quarter burnished gold bar along the text and an intricate border in a floral design in blue, green, red, pink and both liquid and burnished gold with a bird resting on a branch while looking at the text; Verso has a delicate floral border along the left of text in pink, green, blue and burnished gold.

Netherlands, c. 1460.

The five-line illuminated “G” begins  Hours of the Virgin – Hour of Terce: “God wilt…” (Incline unto my aid O God…).

The two-line illuminated “C” begins:  “Criste conine…” (The wounds, the riven wounds he shows in that his flesh with light that glows, in loud accord both far & nigh the Lord's arising testify. Remember, O Creator Lord, that in the Virgin's sacred womb Thou wast conceived…).

The two-line illuminated “T” begins Psalm 119 (King James 120): 1-6: “Totten…” (In my trouble I cried to the Lord: and he heard me…).

The Dutch (Low Countries) were the first to break the tradition of using Latin in Prayer Books and Books of Hours.  In England, France and Italy, Latin continued to be the primary liturgical language throughout the 1400’s.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11577
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