c 1420-40 Book of Hours Leaf - All Saints - Very Uncommon

$7,500.00

Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red-ruled, Latin text, written with dark brown ink in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum.(127 x 92mm – 5 x 3 ¾’’) 

One three-line illuminated initial in blue on a burnished gold ground with a floral interior design in red, orange and blue; one two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on blue and pink ground extending into the margin with a delicate rinceaux design in  burnished gold and blue; four one-line illuminated initials in blue with red penwork.

Northern France (Paris), c. 1420-30.

Uncommon Miniature painting (68x45mm – 2 5/8 x 1 ¾’’) illuminated by a master of the Boucicaut School depicting All Saints:  In this scene saints are gathered on a grassy field. From left to right in front are Saints Helena of Constantinople wearing a crown and holding a cross, John the Baptist holding his attribute the lamb, Anthony the Great with a Tau cross on his robe, leaning on a cane and holding a book, and Apostle James the Great with pilgrim’s staff, pilgrim’s hat and pilgrim’s scallop.  Between the pope and cardinal is Saint Thomas of Becket with head bloodied by wound, and behind more saints including an archangel. The miniature is surrounded by text-frame bars on three sides in blue, pink and burnished gold with full borders of foliage with multi-colored acanthus-leaf sprays at corners.

The three-line illuminated ''D'' begins: ''Domine...'' (Thou O Lord wilt open my lips...).

Provenance:  Sotheby's - ex G. Barilla of Geneva, and formerly Frederick Fowler collection (England c. 1820's)

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12172