Original leaf from a manuscript pocket Bible with illuminations from the Johannes Grusch Atelier. Red-ruled Latin gothic minuscule script written in brown ink on animal vellum. (150x100 mm – 6 x 3 7/8‘‘)
Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 44 lines of text in double columns (12 lines per inch!).
France: Paris, c. A.D. 1240-50.
The five-line historiated initial “V” is in blue with white tracery on a dark pink ground, extending into the margin in pink, blue, gold & orange. Within the initial is a miniature painting of Prophet Abdias (Obadiah) in gold, blue, pink & white. One six-line illuminated initial which transforms into a winged dragon extending into the margin in orange, blue, gold, pink & white. The four-line illuminated “S” is in the same colors with an interior geometric design.
Text begins Amos 9:1-15: “novissimum…” (I saw the Lord standing upon the altar…).
The inhabited “J” begins the Prologue to the Book of Abdias (Obadiah).
The historiated “V” begins Abdias (Obadiah) complete 1:1-21: “Visio…” (The vision of Abdias. Thus saith the Lord God to Edom: We have heard a rumor from the Lord, and he that sent an ambassador to the nations…).
The illuminated “S” begins the Prologue to the Book of Jonah.
The book from which this leaf came was a very high-quality production, scribed in the Johannes Grusch Workshop in Paris. Other leaves from this same book were exhibited in the Jeanne Blackburn Collection at the Cleveland Art Museum (pl. 7 & 8).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
