"[Illuminated Bible Leaf]", Anon.

A wonderful vellum leaf from a French Bible with extraordinary decorations on both sides. On the recto is a large initial A painted in red, blue, white, green and burnished gold leaf. The decoration extends between the two columns into the top and bottom margins and incorporates mythical animals, known as grotesques, into the decoration. A smaller initial includes delicate penwork in red and blue extending to fill the inside margin. On the same side are two corrections, surrounded by penwork. The verso includes a red and blue initial as well as another grotesque in the margin. The text is in a nice gothic bookhand in black with red rubrics. The title of the book (JUDITH) is written in the top margin in red and blue, and the numbers of the chapters are in the same colors. This sheet was apparently repaired at an early time in its life; as a section of the vellum has been removed and a new piece inserted. The text and marginal illumination flow nearly seamlessly into the replaced sheet and appears to be the same hand.

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Condition: A