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 (recto) hand-painted with tempera colors in a floral motif with acanthus leaves on liquid gold ground.
Printed and hand-painted with rich sumptuous colors in the workshop of Germain Hardouyn - printer and highly skilled illuminator. Paris, c. 1532.
The large miniature painting, framed within gold architectural columns, dramatically depicts The Garden of Gethsemane and begins the PASSION OF CHRIST. Judas is shown planting the Kiss of Betrayal on Christ’s cheek while in the foreground Peter raises his sword to cutting off the ear of Malchus – the high priest’s servant. Christ holds the ear in his hand before healing the servant.
The two-line illuminated “E” begins John 18:1-21: “Egressus est…” (Jesus went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where there was a garden, into which he entered with his disciples. And Judas also, who betrayed him, knew the place; because Jesus had often resorted thither together with his disciples. Judas therefore having received a band of soldiers and servants from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons…).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
