c 1532 Book of Hours Leaf - Madonna & Child

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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 and/or red with delicate gold penwork. Elaborate border on each side hand-painted with tempera colors in a floral motif with acanthus leaves on liquid gold ground.  One hand-painted miniature of the Madonna and Child (verso).

Printed and hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - printer and highly skilled illuminator. Paris, c. 1532.

In purpose and format, printed Books of Hours followed the older manuscript examples. The more luxurious were printed on vellum. 

This leaf concludes the section of Suffrages - prayers to saints who were considered the protectors, helpers & guardians of medieval people.   Recto contains part of the suffrages for Saint Barbara.  

The miniature painting (verso) depicts Madonna and Child & begins the very popular Obsecro te: (I beseech thee, Lady Holy Mary, Mother of God, most full of piety, daughter of the Most High King, Mother most glorious, Mother of orphans, consolation of the desolate, way of the straying, health & hope of those hoping in thee, virgin before giving birth, virgin during birth, & virgin after giving birth. I beseech thee font of mercy, font of grace & well-being, font of piety & joy, font of consolation & indulgence. I beseech thee through that holy ineffable joy in which thy spirit rejoiced at that hour when the Son of God was announced to thee by the Archangel Gabriel and was conceived, and through the divine mystery worked by the Holy Spirit, and through that holy ineffable grace, piety, mercy, love and humility by which the Son of God descended…). 

Shipped unmatted

  • Inventory# IM-13046
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