IM-13607: Very fine illuminated manuscript leaf on vellum from a mid-12th century Italian Lectionary. Written in brown ink in Latin with text in a single column of 22 lines. Italy, c 1150 AD
Size: 330 x 240mm – 13 x 9.5 inches.
Rubrication in red ink and with two marginal "I" initials illuminated in red and blue – the larger one extending 155mm (6 inches) along the left margin (verso). The text includes portions of two New Testament lessons from the Gospel of Matthew.
A lovely example in exceptional condition of a seldom seen manuscript. Sister leaves are Gwara Handlist 3, i.e. leaf #3 in Otto Ege’s Portfolio of Fifty Leaves. Ege described the beautiful calligraphic text as “revised Carolingian script”. Other examples are at several institutions, including Denison University and the Cleveland Public Library, as discussed in Peter Kidd’s blog Medieval Manuscripts Provenance, 4 February 2015.
The first illuminated “I” begins “In illo…” followed by Matthew 13: 33-35: (And at that time Jesus said to his disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world).
The second illuminated “I” begins “In illo…” followed by Matthew 22: 2-4: (At that time …The kingdom of heaven is likened to a king, who made a marriage for his son. And he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage; and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner…).
A stunningly elegant leaf from a high quality liturgical manuscript - in as fine condition as possible for an 875 year old specimen.
Shipped unmatted
