Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin on animal vellum in brown ink. (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials, four one-line illuminated initials and five line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
Ink drawing (doodle) verso, into the margin from the first line of text.
The one-line illuminated “D” begins: “Deus…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…).
The two-line illuminated “N” begins: “Nobis sancti…” (The grace of the Holy Spirit free unto us befall: Wherewith was overshadowed the maid of maidens all. When the angel Gabriel his salutation said, The Word itself flesh became and the virgin fruitful made. Come O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of thy faithful: and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth).
The two-line illuminated “O” begins: “Omnipotens…” (Almighty and everlasting God…).
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
