Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines, of red-ruled Latin text written in dark brown ink, in fine gothic script on animal vellum.(170 x 120mm – 6 ¾ x 4 7/8’’)
One two-line illuminated initial in red with delicate white penwork with an internal floral motif in blue and red on a burnished gold ground; twelve one-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on a blue and red ground with delicate white penwork; eight illuminated line-extenders in blue, red, white and burnished gold. A thin burnished gold bar runs the length of text on one side, next to a beautiful rinceaux border in red, blue, green, pink and burnished gold
France, Loire Valley (Angers?), c. 1440-50.
The one-line illuminated “P” begins Psalm 120 (King James 121) 6-8: “Per diem sol…” (The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and forever).
The two-line illuminated “L” begins Psalm 121 (KJ 122) complete: “Letatus sum…” (I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We shall go into the house of the Lord. Our feet were standing in thy courts, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which is built as a city, which is compact together. For thither did the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord: the testimony of Israel, to praise the name of the Lord. Because their seats have sat in judgment, seats upon the house of David. Pray ye for the things that are for the peace of Jerusalem: and abundance for them that love thee. Let peace be in thy strength: and abundance in thy towers. For the sake of my brethren, and of my neighbors, I spoke peace of thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I have sought good things for thee).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
