Original leaf from a 700+ year old illuminated manuscript medieval Breviary. 21 lines of ruled Latin text, written in gothic liturgical bookhand script on animal vellum. Dimensions: 139 x 99mm – 5 ½ x 3 7/8’’.
Northern France or French Flanders, c. 1280-1300.
Along the top of each side a wonderful whimsical creature in blue and or red prances along the top of the leaf with a ball in its mouth.
The leaf is embellished with five illuminated initials alternating in deep blue surrounded by delicate red penwork, and red surrounded by delicate blue penwork; one elaborate two-line initial in deep blue with an orange, blue and red interior on a burgundy ground and extending along the outer margin.
The text continues the section for the Fifth Sunday after Easter. The elaborate illuminated “A” begins part of Jeremiah 20:10: “Audivi contumelias…” (For I heard the reproaches of many, and terror on every side: Persecute him, and let us persecute him: from all the men that were my familiars, and continued at my side…).
Condition note: This leaf was written with corrosive ink that wore through the vellum on numerous letters.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
