Original leaf from a medieval Book of Hours. 19 lines of ruled text, written in medieval Dutch with dark brown ink in fine Gothic script, on animal vellum. (170 x 120mm – 6 5/8 x 4 ¾’’)
One illuminated five-line initial in burnished gold with an interior floral design in pink, red and gold on a green ground and all resting on a pink ground with delicate white penwork; three two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold, two with pink interior and on a blue or pink ground; six illuminated one-line initials alternating in red and blue.
Recto has a three-quarter burnished gold bar along the text surrounded with a floral design in blue, green, red, pink and both liquid and burnished gold with a bird resting on a branch while pecking at berries in a flower; Verso has a burnished gold bar along the text ending with a delicate floral bouquet top and bottom in pink, green, blue and burnished gold.
Netherlands, c. 1460.
The five-line illuminated “G” begins: “God wilt…” (Incline unto my aid O God…).
The two-line illuminated “S” begins Psalm 83 (King James 84) 5-9: “Salith…” (Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, O Lord: they shall praise thee forever and ever. Blessed is the man whose help is from thee: in his heart he hath disposed to ascend by steps, in the vale of tears, in the place for which he hath set. For the lawgivers shall give a blessing, they shall go from virtue to virtue: the God of gods shall be seen in Sion. O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob).
The Dutch (Low Countries) were the first to break the tradition of using Latin in Prayer Books and Books of Hours. In England, France and Italy, Latin continued to be the primary liturgical language throughout the 1400’s.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
