Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 13 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with dark brown ink in fine lettre bâtarde script on animal vellum with rubrics in red.
Lavishly embellished with a six-line miniature painting of Christ before Pilate. The leaf also hasa two-line illuminated initial in blue and white with an internal floral design all on burnished gold ground; four two-line illuminated initials, and two one-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on blue and red ground with white penwork.. The text and miniature painting, recto, are surrounded by an intricate floral border in red, blue, green on a liquid gold ground. The ¼ border, verso, is a colorful floral motif on liquid gold ground.
Origin: Paris, France circa 1500.
Size: 110 x 75mm – 4.25 x 2.9 inches, from a diminutive manuscript likely written for a lady.
The miniature painting (recto) depicts a haloed Christ in violet robes standing before Pontius Pilate. A soldier stands behind Christ both of them focused on Pontius Pilate.
The two-line illuminated “D” begins: “Deus in adiutorium…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me…).
The two-line illuminated “H” begins “Hora prima…” (They our Lord to Pilate led at the hour of prime, And by witnesses full false accused much of crime, His hands tied they beat Him with fists in great despite, They upon God's face do spit the heaven's grateful light).
Provenance: ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919. Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.
Shipped unmatted
