Original leaf from a medieval manuscript folio Bible with illuminations from an artist identified by Robert Branner (Manuscript painting in Paris During the Reign of Saint Louis) as a member of the “Main-line of the Sainte-Chapelle Group”.
Latin gothic script, hand-written in brown ink, on animal vellum. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 49 lines of text in double columns. (288 x 190 mm - 11.5 x 7.6")
France: Paris, c. 1247 A.D. Formerly owned by the Royal Abbey of St. Genevieve in Paris.
The large size of the leaf is unusual in 13th century Bible production!
One exceptional eight-line initial with a miniature of King David in water, looking upward in prayer and God in heaven above. The initial is in pink with white tracery on a heavily burnished gold ground surrounded by deep blue with delicate white penwork & gold bezants extending into the margin in blue, orange & gold; Two multi-line illuminated initials in red with blue pen-work & blue with red penwork extending along the center margin; numerous one-line illuminated initials alternating in red & deep blue.
This leaf begins Psalm 67 (King James 68) 3-36: ''Sicut...'' (As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish...).
The initial with the miniature begins the Sailor’s Psalm 68 (KJ 69) complete: ''Salvum...'' (Save me, O God: for the waters are come in even unto my soul...).
The illuminated ''D'' begins Psalm 69 (KJ 70) complete: ''Deus...'' (O God, come to my assistance...).
The illuminated ''I'' begins Psalm 70 (KJ 71) 1-3: ''In te...'' (In thee, O Lord, I have hoped...).
Presented in an archival 16x12'' mat.
