Catalog Archive
Auction 116, Lot 861

"[Illuminated Leaf]", Hardouin, Gilles

Subject: Early Printing

Period: 1526 (published)

Publication: Horae B.V.M. Secundumusum Romanvorn

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4 x 6.5 inches
10.2 x 16.5 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

This leaf is from the brief transitional period when the new technology of printing with movable type was combined with the more labor intensive methods of hand painting. The earliest printers were trained in the manuscript tradition and incorporated the conventions of historiated initials and illustrations into their early work. At first they left those spaces blank for the illuminator to complete entirely by hand. Later they developed printing methods (using woodcuts or iron engravings) to decorate the leaves.

Scarce vellum leaf printed in Gothic textura type. The text is surrounded by fully colored elaborate scenes, which are iron engravings. The text is further decorated with illuminated capitals. Printed vellum Book of Hours leaves are very scarce, as they were only produced between 1496 and 1530.

References:

Condition: B

Estimate: $150 - $200

Sold for: $90

Closed on 9/20/2006

Archived