IM-13560:  Original leaf from a French medieval illuminated manuscript Book of Hours. 17 lines of hand-ruled text written in Latin with black ink in fine bold gothic textura script on animal vellum with rubrics in red.

One two-line illuminated gold initial and fifteen one-line illuminated initials alternating in burnished gold with blue penwork and blue with red penwork – many extending into the margins.

Origin:  Paris, France  circa 1425-1450    

Size :  6.1 x 4.5 inches,  (155 x 114mm) 

The one-line illuminated “M” begins Psalm 142 (King James 143) 5-12: “Memor…” (I remembered the days of old, I meditated on all thy works: I meditated upon the works of thy hands…Thy good spirit shall lead me into the right land: for thy name’s sake, O Lord, thou wilt quicken me in thy justice. Thou wilt bring my soul out of trouble: and in thy mercy thou wilt destroy my enemies.  And thou wilt cut off all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant).

The two-line illuminated “K” begins the Litany of the Saints (first prescribed by Pope Gregory in 590 for a public thanksgiving following a plague that ravaged Rome): “Kyrie…” (Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us. Christ hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us.

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).