Medieval Bible Leaf - Christ stills the sea - casts out devils

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A lovely original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. In Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, ruled in red & written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum.  (156 x 103 mm - 6.2 x 4.1"). 

Rubricated chapter numbers; two multi-lined illuminated Lombard style initials &elegant marginal penwork in red & blue. Calligraphy is excellent, & the vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin & smooth. The gothic text is written in remarkably tiny (ten lines of text to the inch!) & very well formed letters.

This leaf contains text from Mark 3:32 – 5:30: (PARABLES; CHRIST STILLS THE TEMPEST AT SEA; CASTS OUT DEVILS)  ''Et sedebat…'' (And the multitude sat about him…And he taught them many things in parables…So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth…It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all seeds that are in the earth: And when it is sown, it groweth up, & becometh greater than all herbs…There arose a great storm of wind…Rising up, he rebuked the wind & said to the sea: Peace, be still. And the wind ceased: & there was made a great calm. And d he said to them: Why are you fearful? Have you not faith yet?…She said: If I shall touch but his garment, I shall be whole. And forthwith…she was healed of the evil…).

Provenance: parent book was s “portable” Bible of the Crusades period, used in study of theology or preaching of the Gospel. It was in England by 17th cent; ex coll. Lord Saltoun & later in the collection of Wm Foyle (1885-1963) at Beeligh Abbey. The Bible containing this leaf was very high-quality, illuminated in Paris & similar to work associated by Branner with the Dominican Painter (see R. Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during the Reign of Saint Louis). 

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-7331
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