Original leaf from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated Book of Hours. Red-ruled for Latin and French 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. Dramatic painting (verso) depicting Planetary Man.
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.
Verso depicts THE PLANETARY MAN. Illustrated are the effects of the planets on different parts of the human body. It was especially pertinent to the foremost medical practice of the Middle Ages. Surrounding the body, instructions relate to best zodiacal times for bleeding, to rid the body of bad blood & harmful fluids. Upper left: “When the moon is in Aries, Leo, & Sagittarius, it is good to bleed the choleric”. In the corners are personifications of the four temperaments. The choleric, whose symbol is the lion is associated with the element of fire. The sanguine holds his hawk & is accompanied by a monkey – his element is air. The melancholic leads a pig – his element is earth. The phlegmatic animal is the lamb - his element water.
Dramatic sought-after image rendered in gold and bright colors, three small unobtrusive wormholes in the bottom inch of the leaf.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
