IM-13525: Original leaf from a large and luxurious medieval manuscript Psalter/Hours. 22 lines of ruled Latin text, written with black ink on animal vellum.
England, c. 1450.
SIZE: 200 x 135mm – 7 7/8 x 5 ¼ inches’’
Richly illuminated manuscript leaf with a 2 inch square illuminated initial in pink and blue with floral interior in pink, green, blue and white on a burnished gold ground and extending into the margin. The text is surrounded by a burnished gold, pink and blue bar wrapped with flowers and leaves extending into the margins in green, pink, blue, white and burnished gold.
The coat-of-arms at the bottom displays a silver lion on a black ground with four black diamond shaped decorations on gold ground; outside the bar the remaining margins are filled with flowers, leaves and gold bezants. The leaf is further embellished with Two two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on blue and red ground, and twenty-one one-line illuminated initials alternating in burnished gold with blue penwork and blue with red penwork.
The elaborate large illuminated “B” begins Psalm 118 (King James 119) 1-8: “Beati…” (Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that search his testimonies: that seek him with their whole heart. For they that work iniquity, have not walked in his ways. Thou hast commanded thy commandments to be kept most diligently…).
The two-line illuminated “I” continues Psalm 118 (KJ 119) 9-16: “In quo…” (By what doth a young man correct his way? By observing thy words. With my whole heart have I sought after thee: let me not stray from thy commandments…).
The two-line illuminated “R” continues Psalm 118 (KJ 119) 17-23: “Retribue…” (Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words. Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law…).
A magnificent example of the distinctive English book art of the mid fourteen hundreds. Beautifully illuminated and in a fine state of preservation.
Shipped unmatted
