Catalog Archive
Auction 123, Lot 817

"[Book of Hours Leaf]", Anon.

Subject: Medieval Manuscripts

Period: 1470 (circa)

Publication:

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4.5 x 6 inches
11.4 x 15.2 cm
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Book of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity, but modeled on the Divine Office, a cycle of daily devotions, prayers and readings, performed by members of religious orders and the clergy. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight hours (times for prayer ): Matins, Lauds. Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. During the Middle Ages, the leaves making up a Book of Hours were written by hand on expensive parchment and beautifully illuminated with jewel-like pigments and gold leaf. These illuminated manuscripts combined the collaborative efforts of an array of highly skilled craftspeople; requiring the joint labors of the parchmenter, professional scribes to write the text in Gothic script, artists to illuminate the pages with decorations, and masterful binders to complete the process.

A lovely vellum leaf from a French Book of Hours, created in or near Rouen. Both sides have many illuminated initials and line fillers in red, blue, white and liquid gold. The verso has a panel with a penwork vine dotted with flowers and fruit.

References:

Condition: A

A nice example with some minor soil.

Estimate: $170 - $220

Sold for: $130

Closed on 2/20/2008

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