WRITTEN IN MEDIEVAL FRENCH, ILLUMINATED BOOK OF HOURS MANUSCRIPT LEAF C. 1450
Item History & Price
Original Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours LeafAnjou, France (use of Angers), c. 1450-1475 Text: Prayer of Fifteen Joys (WRITTEN IN FRENCH)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IM-12779: (Size is 184 x 125mm – 7 ¼ x 4 7/8 inches) Original leaf from an illuminated medieval manuscript Bookof Hours. There are 15 lines of hand-ruled text written in French on animal vellum in brown ink on ...both sides ofthe leaf. This Book of Hours leaf was scribed and illuminated in Anjou, France (use of Angers), c. 1450-75. It is an original, about 575 years old, not a reproduction. The leaf is completely written in medieval French, much scarcer than the usual Latin language found in books of hours of this period. It is in nice condition as shown in the photos, with stunning bright colors and gold and comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
The leaf is extensively embellishedwith three two-line illuminated initials, three one-line illuminated initial and five line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicatewhite penwork. The panel borders on each side of the leaf contain a highlydecorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold. This leaf commemorates the Fifteen Joysof the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Etres doulce dame…” The prayer wasone of the most popular of all accessory prayers – especially in fifteenth centuryFrance. Each of the 15 sections is divided into two parts, first a directaddress to Mary, recalling one of her joyous moments as the mother of Christ, and then asking her to intercede for the salvation of the praying soul. The prayer which begins with the two-lineilluminated “E” pertains to the Presentationin the Temple. The secondtwo-line illuminated “E” pertains to the Christamong Doctors. The thirdtwo-line illuminated “E” pertains to the Miracleturning water into wine. Angers was the cradle of thePlantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during thereign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two English branchesof the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, wereengaged in the War of the Roses. Weprefer payment through PayPal. For international purchase we accept onlyPayPal. Shipping in theUnited States is $9.00 via USPS Priority Mail. Outside US, shipping is $42.00 by USPS Registered Mail. International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes, andcharges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping cost. These charges arethe buyer's responsibility. Pleasecheck with your country's customs office to determine what these additionalcosts will be prior to bidding or buying. We have been full-timedealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.
The leaf is extensively embellishedwith three two-line illuminated initials, three one-line illuminated initial and five line extenders in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicatewhite penwork. The panel borders on each side of the leaf contain a highlydecorative floral design with flowers, berries, and acanthus leaves in blue, red, green, pink, and burnished gold. This leaf commemorates the Fifteen Joysof the Blessed Virgin Mary: “Etres doulce dame…” The prayer wasone of the most popular of all accessory prayers – especially in fifteenth centuryFrance. Each of the 15 sections is divided into two parts, first a directaddress to Mary, recalling one of her joyous moments as the mother of Christ, and then asking her to intercede for the salvation of the praying soul. The prayer which begins with the two-lineilluminated “E” pertains to the Presentationin the Temple. The secondtwo-line illuminated “E” pertains to the Christamong Doctors. The thirdtwo-line illuminated “E” pertains to the Miracleturning water into wine. Angers was the cradle of thePlantagenet dynasty and one of the intellectual centers of Europe during thereign of Rene of Anjou, (1434-80). When this leaf was scribed the two English branchesof the Plantagenet dynasty, House of Lancaster & House of York, wereengaged in the War of the Roses. Weprefer payment through PayPal. For international purchase we accept onlyPayPal. Shipping in theUnited States is $9.00 via USPS Priority Mail. Outside US, shipping is $42.00 by USPS Registered Mail. International Buyers – Please Note: Import duties, taxes, andcharges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping cost. These charges arethe buyer's responsibility. Pleasecheck with your country's customs office to determine what these additionalcosts will be prior to bidding or buying. We have been full-timedealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.
