"[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.

Beautiful and unusual leaf combining the new printing methods with the art of illumination. Both sides included illuminated capitals in red, blue and gold. The text is surrounded by elaborate scenes, which are fully colored.

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Condition: A+

Minor spots of green color in margin, overall fine.