Original leaf from an illuminated medieval manuscript Book of Hours on animal vellum. (178 x 128mm – 7 x 5’’)
Recto blank. The miniature is surrounded by a dense floral border with a strawberry (symbol of perfect righteousness), in rich colors and burnished and liquid gold.
Belgium, probably Bruges, c. 1475.
The beautiful miniature painting is similar to works associated with Willem Vrelant, an artist working in Bruges 1454-81. It follows the story in John 11: 1-44. Jesus is shown with right hand raised, blessing the risen Lazarus, whose hands are still bound with strips of linen, as he emerges from the grave in which he was buried four days prior in Bethany. St. Peter stands directly behind Jesus. One holy woman (probably one of his sisters, Martha or Mary) stands at Jesus’ right with only her blue robes visible to the audience. Two men are seen to Jesus’ left – one wearing red robes with hands raised in amazement, the other walks closer holding a cane. In the background is a walled city, hills and waterway with boats.
A sister leaf is pictured and described in the Schuster Gallery, 1987 catalog “Illuminated Manuscripts”, number 34.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
