Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 13 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with dark brown ink in fine lettre bâtarde script on animal vellum with rubrics in red. Three two-line illuminated initial and two illuminated line extenders in burnished gold on a red and blue ground; ¼ border (recto) in a colorful floral design on liquid gold ground.
Origin: Paris, France circa 1500.
Size: 110 x 75mm – 4.25 x 2.9 inches, from a diminutive manuscript likely written for a lady.
The two-line illuminated “U” begins: “Ure igne…” (Inflame, O Lord, with the fire of the Holy Spirit, our hearts and our desires; that we may serve Thee with a chaste body and please Thee with a clean heart).
The two-line illuminated “G” begins: “Gratiam tuam…” (Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, Thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection).
The two-line illuminated “E” begins: “Ecclesiam…” (Make Thy church shine, we ask, O kindly Lord, so that illuminated by the teachings of blessed John Thy apostle and evangelist it may reach Thy eternal gifts).
Provenance: ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919. Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.
Shipped unmatted
