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. One two-line illuminated initial in blue and white on gold ground. The text is surrounded by an intricate floral border (which includes strawberries – symbol of perfect righteousness) in red, blue, green on a liquid gold ground. One six-line miniature painting of St. John on the Island of Patmos.
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 miniature painting, depicts John the Evangelist on Patmos Island where the Roman Emperor Domitian exiled him. Here he received his Vision of the Apocalypse and wrote the Book of Revelation. Hills and landscape are seen in the background, An eagle (his attribute) rests at his side as St. John writes.
The text begins the First Gospel Lesson - John 1:1-8: “In principio…” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light…).
Provenance: ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919. Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.
Important content - As the opening text leaf from a well loved book of hours, this leaf show considerable wear, as seen in the photos.
Shipped unmatted
