Original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible. Written in Latin in minute gothic book-hand script, in black ink on animal vellum. Rubricated chapter numbers, initials and marginalia in red and blue. 50 lines of text in double columns (9 lines per inch!).
France, probably Paris, c. 1240.
Size: 190 x 140mm – 7.5 x 5.5 inches
One six-line illuminated initial “F” historiated with a scene of the Angel Gabriel appearing to Zechariah. The initial extends beyond the length of the text in blue, orange, yellow, white and burnished gold.
One six-line illuminated initial “Q” in pink with two whimsical creatures in blue and white surrounded in orange, yellow and burnished gold and extending along six lines of text.
One two-line illuminated “E” in red with elaborate blue and red penwork extending along the interior margin.
Line one on recto continuesthe Passion and Resurrection of Christ, Mark 15:6 – 16:20: “Per diem…” (Now on the festival day he was wont to release unto them one of the prisoners…Pilate again answering saith to them: What will you then that I do to the king of the Jews? But they again cried out: Crucify him…At the ninth hour, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying: Eloi, Eloi, lamma sabacthani? Which is interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me…And he said to them: Go ye into the whole world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved…).
The illuminated “Q” on verso begins Luke 1:1 -4: “Quoniam quidem…” (Forasmuch as many have taken in hand to set forth in order a narration of the things that have been accomplished among us……).
A Prologue continues until the large elaborate illuminated “F” which begins the story of Gabriel's annunciation to Zachary of the miraculous birth of his son John the Baptist. Luke: 1-5 – 13: “Fuit…” (There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachary…there appeared to him an angel of the Lord…the angel said to him: Fear not, Zachary, for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son…)
A very attactive mid-13th century leaf, ln excellent antiquarian condition - larger and with more illuminated gold than usual. The depiction of the annunciation to Zachary as the beginning of the Gospel of Luke is quite rare in early illuminated bibles.
Provenance: from a deluxe mid-thirteenth century Parisian portable bible, artist related to the Du Prat workshop. see Robert Branner, Manuscript painting in Paris During the Reign of Saint Louis for comparison. Ex private Midwestern collection from John Feldman, Quill & Vellum, acquired in 1993.
Shipped unmatted
