Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours Leaf, France, c. 1500

Miniature of the "Mocking of Christ"

IM-13210:  Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 13 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with dark brown ink in fine lettre bâtarde script on animal vellum with rubrics in red. One two-line illuminated initial in blue and white with an internal floral design all on burnished gold ground; three two-line illuminated initials and three one-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on blue and red ground with white penwork.. 

On recto is a six-line miniature painting of the Mocking of Christ.   The text and miniature painting are surrounded by an intricate floral border in red, blue, green on a liquid gold ground.  The border on verso is a colorful floral motif on liquid gold ground. 

Origin:  Paris, France circa 1500.

Size:  110 x 75mm – 4.25 x 2.9 inches, from a diminutive manuscript likely written for a lady.                            

The miniature painting (recto) depicts a seated Christ, wearing a purple robe and a crown of thorns, being mocked by two men on either side of him. The men raise their staffs to strike his head. This opens the text at terce for the Hours of the Cross.

The two-line illuminated “D” begins:  “Deus in adiutorium…” (Incline unto my aid O God. O Lord make haste to help me…).

The  two-line illuminated “C” begins “Crucifige clamitant…” (At the third hour of the day they crucify Him cry, In a purple robe clad Him more to mock thereby, Piteously His head was pricked with the crown of thorn,
To the place of pain His cross was on His shoulders born.).  

The next two-line illuminated D begins:  “Deus…” (Incline unto my aid O God…). The two-line illuminated “S” begins: “Suum…” (God His Holy Spirit sent to His Apostles dear).

Provenance:   ex-collection of Brooklyn Museum of Art, acquired in 1919.  Deaccessioned and sold to support the museum collection.  

This Book of Hours leaf was scribed circa 1500. This is a beautiful and highly ornamental original, more than 500 years old, not a reproduction. It is in nice antiquarian condition as seen in the photos -  It comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.

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. 


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