IM-13686: Original medieval illuminated manuscript noted Missal leaf on animal parchment. 27 lines of Latin text, written in dark brown ink with rubrics in red. Two two-line illuminated initials, eight illuminated one-line initials and one illuminated pilcrow in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. Twenty-three lines of music on a four-line stave.
France, c. 1425-50.
Size: 290 x 210mm – 11.5 x 8.25 inches
This leaf continues the Feast of the Holy Innocents. The one-line illuminated “Q” continues the hymn: “Quam Felices…” (How happy will the mothers come forth, who had given birth to these promises. O sweet battle-line of Innocents, O pious fights of the suckling-children for Christ. Thousands of small children had been butchered, and rivers of milk were flowing from their tender limbs. The Angels, their fellow-citizens, came to meet them, in a wondrous victory the most brightly shining crowd graspeth the prize of life. Thee, O Christ, we beg with a most pious mind; thou, who hast come to renew our age, grant that we may enjoy the glory of the Innocents).
The one-line illuminated “A” begins the Flight Into Egypt, Matthew 2:13-18: “Angelus…” (And after they were departed, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in sleep to Joseph saying: Arise, and take the child and his mother, and fly into Egypt: and be there until I shall tell thee. For it will come to pass that Herod will seek the child to destroy him. Who arose, and took the child and his mother by night, and retired into Egypt: and he was there until the death of Herod. That it might be fulfilled which the Lord spoke by the prophet, saying: Out of Egypt have I called my son…).
A fine large medieval Missal leaf, very close in style and size to the Otto Ege leaf identified and described in Gwara Hand List#26.
Shipped unmatted
