Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in French on animal vellum in brown ink. (184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials, two one-line illuminated initials and five line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white penwork. The panel borders contain a highly decorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold.
France (Anjou), Use of Angers, c. 1450-75.
This leaf commemorates of the Fifteen Joys of the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Etres doulce dame…” The prayer was one of the most popular of all accessory prayers – especially in fifteenth century France. Each of the 15 sections is divided into two parts, first a direct address to Mary, recalling one of her joyous moments as the mother of Christ, and then asking her to intercede for the salvation of the praying soul. The prayer which begins with the two-line illuminated “E” pertains to the joy of the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary.
The second two-line illuminated “E” pertains to the joy of the Visitation. This is one of the very few leaves written in French – once the prayer was completed, the text reverted to Latin.
Angers was the cradle of the Plantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during the reign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two branches of the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, were engaged in the War of the Roses.
A lovely 550 year old illuminated leaf in excellent condition and completely written in Medieval French - significantly scarcer than Book of Hours leaves with Latin text.
Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat
