"[Illuminated Leaf]", Hardouin, Gilles

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.

Attractive vellum leaf printed in Gothic textura type. Recto has three illuminated capitals in red and gold. The text (on both sides) is surrounded by elaborate scenes including demons, angels and the initials of Gilles Hardouyn.

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Condition: A