Catalog Archive
Auction 129, Lot 866

"[Illuminated 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.

Fine vellum leaf from a French Book of Hours, written in or near Rouen. Both sides include several illuminated initials and line fillers and the decoration on the recto includes an elaborate panel of flowers and leaves. The text is from the Seven Penitential Psalms, Psalms 50 and 101 (KJV 51 & 102).

References:

Condition: B+

Some spots in margins on verso.

Estimate: $180 - $230

Sold for: $110

Closed on 9/23/2009

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