Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 17 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with black ink in fine bold gothic textura script on animal vellum with rubrics in red.
One multi-line illuminated initial and fifteen one-line illuminated initials alternating in deep blue with red penwork and burnished gold with blue penwork – extending into the margins.
Origin: Paris, France circa 1425-1450 Size: 6.1 x 4.5 inches, (155 x 114mm)
The one-line illuminated “V” continues Psalm 118 (King James 119) 26-32: “Vias meas…” (I have declared my ways, and thou hast heard me…).
The two-line illuminated “Q” begins The Athanasian Creed: “Quimcumque…” (Whoever wishes to be saved must, above all, keep the Catholic faith. For unless a person keeps this faith whole and entire, he will undoubtedly be lost forever. This is what the catholic faith teaches: we worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity. Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, another of the Holy Spirit. But the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit have one divinity, equal glory, and coeternal majesty. What the Father is, the Son is, and the Holy Spirit is. The Father is uncreated, the Son is uncreated, and the Holy Spirit is uncreated…).
Provenance: Written for the Use of Paris – Rare inclusion of St. Bruno in the Litany indicates possible ownership by a monk of the Carthusian Monastery of Vauvert (Order of St Bruno), Paris (established 1257, dissolved 1792).
Shipped unmatted
