Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 17 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown ink in precise and elegant lettre batarde script on animal vellum with rubrics in red. (155x95mm – 6 x 3.75’’)
Two two-line illuminated initials and four one-line illuminated initials in gold on alternating red and blue ground with delicate gold penwork.
Northern France, c. 1470.
The one-line illuminated “A” continues the hymn : “Ave Cuius…” (Hail, thou whose birth Was our festival as our luminous rising light, Coming before the true sun. Hail, pious humility, Fertility without a man, whose annunciation, Was our salvation. Hail, true virginity, Unspotted chastity, whose purification Was our cleansing. Hail, famous with all, Angelic virtues, Whose assumption was Our glorification.).
The two-line illuminated “S” begins the Stabat Mater: “Stabat…” (At the Cross her station keeping, stood the mournful Mother weeping, close to Jesus to the last).
Shipped unmatted
