A Fine Illuminated Vellum Leaf from the Workshop of Jean Coene

A finely decorated vellum leaf from a Renaissance Book of Hours. It contains one single column of 22 lines, ruled in red, of written text in Latin. The text is a fine example of the popular Medieval and Renaissance gothic book-hand script, used extensively for French vernacular books, known as lettre bâtarde. The leaf is executed in red, white, green, yellow, pink, orange and blue tempera, and liquid gold on both sides. The verso contains one highly illuminated initial, highlighting the beginning of Psalm 69, Deus in Adiutorium Meum Intende. The initial, standing on a blue background, is further enriched by a beautiful geometrical decoration. By placing at the beginning of every Hour the invocation of the Psalm, ‘Deus, in audiutorim meum intende’ followed by the response, ‘Domine, ad adiuvandum me festina’ (respectively, “O God, come to my assistance” and “O Lord, make haste to help me”), the Catholic Church implores the assistance of God against any distractions in prayer. The text is bordered to one side with an elegantly rendered column on gold and white ground, divided in twelve rhomboid sections. Each one displays an intricate flower and foliate decoration, depicting acanthus leaves, violets, pinks and iris flowers.