Original leaf from a medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (Size 184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)
Exteensively embellished with Two two-line illuminated initials, eleven one-line illuminated initials and nine line extender in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
This leaf contains portions of the text for three of the Seven Penitential Psalms.The one-line illuminated “E” begins Psalm 101 (King James 102): 27-29: “Et sicut…” (And as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed…).
The two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 129 (KJ 130) complete: “De profundis…” (Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If thou, O Lord wilt mark iniquities: Lord, who shall stand it. For with thee there is merciful forgiveness: and by reason of thy law. I have waited for thee O Lord. My soul hath relied on his word: my soul hath hoped in the Lord. Because with the Lord there is mercy: and with him plentiful redemption. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities).
The next two-line illuminated “D” opens Psalm 142 (KJ 143): “Domine exaudi…” (Hear O Lord my prayer…).
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
A very attractive leaf in fine condition and with significant content.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
