c 1450-75 Book of Hours leaf - Beautiful border - Psalm

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Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink.  (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)

One two-line illuminated initial and nine one-line illuminated initials 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.

The two-line illuminated “E” begins Psalm 39 (King James 40) 1-9: “Expectans…” (With expectation I have waited for the Lord, and he was attentive to me. And he heard my prayers and brought me out of the pit of misery and the mire of dregs. And he set my feet upon a rock and directed my steps. And he put a new canticle into my mouth, a song to our God. Many shall see, and shall fear: and they shall hope in the Lord. Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord; and who hath not had regard to vanities, and lying follies…).

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.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-12704
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