Medieval Book of Hours Leaf - c 1450 - St Thomas Becket

$0.00

Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 18  lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink & red rubrics in fine gothic script on animal vellum. (158 x 112mm – 6 ¼ x 4 3/8’’) 

Three illuminated two-line initials in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork; several initials heightened with red.

Flanders (Use of Sarum), c. 1450 – produced to follow the English rites, for the English market. The Litany of the Saints from this book listed several Saints associated with Britain, including George (patron of Britain), Swithin (Bishop of Westminster), Eusebius (martyred Irish Benedictine), Burinus (Apostle of Wessex), and Julian (early English Martyr).

This leaf continues the Suffrages of the Saints.  Suffrages attest to the deep personal connection between saints and ordinary medieval people. This leaf is devoted to Saints Thomas Becket (Thomas of Canterbury), Nicholas (patron of children) and Mary Magdalene.  

The two-line illuminated “D” begins a prayer for use in Salisbury (Sarum):  “Deus…” (God for whose church the glorious pontiff Thomas died by the swords of the impious; grant we pray that all who implore his help may obtain the salvation which they seek).

The two-line illuminated “D” begins: “ Deus qui…” (O God, who adorned the blessed Nicholas thy priest with innumerable miracles, grant to us, we beseech, that by his favors and prayers we be freed from the fires of hell). 

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-11558
Sold Out