Original leaf from a medieval Book of Hours. 17 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin with dark brown and red ink in Gothic script on animal vellum. (150x100mm – 6 x 4’’)
One illuminated two-line initial in burnished gold with blue internal penwork and surrounded by a deep blue color and delicate red penwork; seven illuminated one-line initials, one paraph, and two line-extenders alternating in deep blue with delicate red penwork and burnished gold with delicate blue penwork. Beautiful three-quarter-panel border (verso) of burnished gold, deep blue and delicate red and blue pen flourishes.
Southeastern France, Aix or Marseilles, c. 1460. (Made for a patron most likely residing in Provence, along the stretch between Aix & Marseilles – a region host to scribes & artists from all over Europe). This unusual leaf was formerly in the collection of Count Paul Durrieu (1855-1925), one of the first and most eminent historians of late Medieval French Illuminated Manuscripts and Keeper of Manuscripts at the Bibliotheque Nationale
The one-line illuminated “A” continues Psalm 108 (King James 109) 26-31: “Adiuva me…” (Help me, O Lord my God; save me according to thy mercy. And let them know that this is thy hand: and that thou, O Lord, hast done it…I will give great thanks to the Lord with my mouth: and in the midst of many I will praise him. Because he hath stood at the right hand of the poor, to save my soul from persecutors).
The two-line illuminated “X” begins part of I Peter: 21-22: “Christus passus…” (Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth).
Presented in an archival 14 x 11''mat
