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 with an internal floral design all on burnished gold ground; two two-line illuminated initials and two one-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on blue and red ground with white penwork.. One six-line miniature painting of The Entombment. The text and miniature painting, recto, are surrounded by an intricate floral border in red, blue, green on a liquid gold ground. The ¼ border, verso, is a colorful floral motif 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 miniature painting (recto) depicts Two men, holding ends of shroud, lower Christ into the tomb with his bloody wounds evident; The Virgin Mary stands to the side of her son with haloed Mary Magdalene at her side. Landscape in background.
The two-line illuminated “C” begins The Hours of the Cross – Hour of Compline: “Converte…” (Convert us O God our Savior. And turn away thy wrath from us. Incline unto my aid O God…).
The two-line illuminated “H” begins “Hora…” (When as compline was come was layed in his tomb, Christ his body precious the hope of life to come. Embalmed it was: scriptures thus accomplished we see: Still this death to have in mind my care O let it be).
Provenance: ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919. Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.
Shipped unmatted
