Original Medieval Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours Leaf, Northern France, c. 1440
Text:  6th Century Hymn O Gloriosa Domina & The Canticle of Zachary (Luke 1: 68-75):
"...He hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant: ...Salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us..."

                                     
       

  IM-11401: An original leaf from a medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 16 lines of ruled bold gothic textura script, written on both sides of the leaf in Latin with dark brown ink, on animal vellum. This leaf measures 183 x 138 mm (7 1/4 x 5 3/8”). 

This Book of Hours leaf was scribed in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1440. This is an original, about 575 years old, not a reproduction. Its condition is excellent, as shown in the photos. The vellum is very clean, with very little evidence of devotional use, and the text, colors, and gold are fresh and bright. It is an attractive and showy leaf, larger than usual.

   ONE LARGE ILLUMINATED TWO-LINE INITIAL IN BURNISHED GOLD ON RED AND BLUE GROUND WITH DELICATE WHITE PENWORK. There are NINE ILLUMINATED ONE-LINE INITIALS ALTERNATING IN DEEP BLUE WITH DELICATE RED PENWORK AND BURNISHED GOLD WITH DELICATE VIOLET PENWORK.  


   The text begins part of the first stanza of the 6th century hymn O Gloriosa domina: “Qui te creavit…” ([O heaven’s glorious mistress, enthroned above the starry sky] Thou feedest with thy sacred breast thy own Creator, Lord most high. What man had lost in hapless Eve, thy sacred womb to man restores, thou to the wretched here beneath hast opened Heaven's eternal doors. Hail, O refulgent Hall of light! Hail Gate august of Heaven's high King! Through thee redeemed to endless life, thy praise let all the nations sing. To the Father and the Spirit and to thy Son all glory be, who with a wondrous garment of graces encircled thee. Amen). The two-line illuminated “B” begins The Canticle of Zachary – Luke 1: 68-75: “Benedictus…” (Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people: He hath raised up an horn of salvation to us, in the house of David his servant: As he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, who are from the beginning: Salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us…).
 

Books of Hours are personal prayer books of a devout and status-conscious society and are not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time.  They reveal a unique combination of sacred and secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience that could both appreciate and afford them. 

This leaf comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

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We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.