Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours Leaf, France, c. 1425-50
Calendar Leaf for SEPTEMBER
IM-13379:
Calendar Leaf for SEPTEMBER - Original leaf from a French medieval
illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 17 lines of hand-ruled
text written in Latin with black and red ink in fine bold gothic
textura script on animal vellum.
Large illuminated
“KL” initials (abbreviations for KALENDS) & four one-line
illuminated initials alternate in burnished gold surrounded by
intricate blue penwork & deep blue surrounded by elaborate red
penwork. Saints’ names & Feasts are in red (origin of “red letter
day”) or black ink.
Origin: Paris,
France circa 1425-1450
Size: 6.1 x 4.5
inches, (155 x 114mm)
Among the saints
listed are: (2 Sep) St. Antoninus, (4 Sep) St.
Marcellus, (8 Sep) Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, (14
Sep) Exaltation of the Cross, (21 Sep) St Matthew
(apostle) and (29 Sep) Michael the Archangel).
To the left of the
list of saints’ days are repeating series of letters A - G called Dominical
Letters since they help find Sundays (after many calculations). At
the far left is a column of Roman numerals i - xix called Golden
Numbers to indicate appearances of new moons, & counting ahead
14 days, full moons throughout the year (year + 1; divide by 19; remainder is
Golden Number - if zero GN = 19). Finally: each month had 3 fixed points:
Kalends (1st day) Ides (middle) & Nones (9th day
before Ides). All days in between were counted backwards from
these points.
Provenance: Written for the Use of
Paris – Rare inclusion of St. Bruno in the Litany indicates possible ownership
by a monk of the Carthusian Monastery of Vauvert (Order of St Bruno),
Paris (established 1257, dissolved 1792).
This Book of Hours leaf was scribed circa 1425-1450. This is a beautiful and highly ornamental original, about 575 years old, not a reproduction. It is in exceptionally nice antiquarian condition as shown in the photos. The colors and gold are fresh and bright. 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. | ||