A lovely original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, red ruled & written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum with rubricated chapter numbers. Calligraphy is excellent, & vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin & smooth. The gothic text is written in remarkably tiny & (ten lines of text to the inch!) & very well formed letters.
Size: 156x103 mm - 6.25 x 4 inches..
The FORTY-THREE + LINE initial “I” contains a miniature painting of St Mark standing and holding a book; his attribute the lion, is crouched beneath him. The initial continues downward in an intricate swirling design containing a very whimsical winged creature.
The five-line illuminated initial opens the Prologue to the Book of Mark and is in blue, pink, white & gold.
This leaf contains Matthew 28:5 – Mark 1:32: “Scio…” I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he is risen, as he said…Jesus said…teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, & of the Son, & of the Holy Ghost…John preached, saying …I have baptized you with water; but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost …Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan…there came a voice from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased…The kingdom of God is at hand: repent, & believe the gospel…Jesus said to them: Come after me, & I will make you to become fishers of men…).
Provenance: parent book was a “portable” Bible of Crusades era, used in preaching the Gospel around medieval countryside. In England by the 17th century; ex collection Lord Saltoun & later famous collection of Wm Foyle (1885-1963) at Beeligh Abbey. The bible that contained this leaf was a very high-quality production, illuminated in Paris &similar to work associated by Branner with Dominican Painter (see R Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during Reign of Saint Louis).
Shipped unmatted
