c 1500 Book of Hours Leaves - Continuous Bifolium - Psalms

$395.00

Original continuous bifolium leaves (two leaves – four pages) 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.

Two two-line illuminated initials, fifteen one-line illuminated initials and six illuminated line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground; ¼ border (pages 2 and 4) in a colorful floral design  (including columbine – symbol of the Holy Spirit) on liquid gold ground.                      

Origin:  Paris, France circa 1500.

Size (each leaf):  110 x 75mm – 4.25 x 2.9 inches, from a diminutive manuscript likely written for a lady.

This is the center pair of leaves from a signature, thus the text is continuous from the recto of the first leaf to the verso, then to the recto of the second leaf and finally to its verso. Scarce, because that can only happen on the center bifolium. The two joined leaves impart the feeling and appearance of an open medieval book !

The one-line illuminated “H” continues Psalm 119 (King James 120) 5-7:  “Heu michi…” (Woe is me, that my sojourning is prolonged! I have dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar…).

The two-line illuminated “L” begins Psalm 120 (KJ 1221) complete: “Levavi…” (I have lifted up my eyes to the mountains, from whence help shall come to me. My help is from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. May he not suffer thy foot to be moved: neither let him slumber that keepeth thee. Behold he shall neither slumber nor sleep, that keepeth Israel. The Lord is thy keeper, the Lord is thy protection upon they right hand. The sun shall not burn thee by day: nor the moon by night. The Lord keepeth thee from all evil: may the Lord keep thy soul. May the Lord keep thy coming in and thy going out; from henceforth now and forever).

The two-line illuminated “D” begins Psalm 129 (KJ 130) 1-5: “De profundis…” (Out of the depths I have cried to thee, O Lord: Lord, hear my voice. Let thy ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication…).

Provenance:   ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919.  Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.

Shipped unmatted

  • Inventory# IM-13288