Original leaf from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Ruled for twenty-six lines of Latin text, printed in black on animal vellum. (163 x 108mm – 6 3/8 x 4 1/4’’)
Initials illuminated by hand in gold, on grounds of blue or red with delicate gold penwork. Elaborate border (verso) hand-painted with tempera colors in a floral motif with acanthus leaves on liquid gold ground.
Printed and hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - printer and highly skilled illuminator. Paris, c. 1532.
The large hand-painted miniature (verso), framed within gold architectural columns, dramatically depicts the Holy Trinity. The three faces of God are as one, and the roundels on the outer triangle display the names “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit”, The inner roundel displays the name “God” connecting to the outer with the words “EST” (Father is God, Son is God, Holy Spirit is God). The outer connecting words reveal that “Pater non est Filius…” (Father is not the Son, Son is not the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit is not the Father).
The text beneath the miniature begins: “Sancta trinitas…” (Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. We call upon Thee, we adore Thee, we praise Thee, we glorify Thee, O blessed Trinity. Blessed be the name of the Lord from henceforth, now and forever).
The two-line illuminated “O” begins the prayer: “Omnipotens…” (Almighty, everlasting God, who has permitted us Thy servants, in our profession of the true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of that majesty to adore the Unity, grant, that by steadfastness in this same faith…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
