Medieval Flemish Illuminated Book of Hours Page
£ 995.00
An exceptional double-sided single leaf from a Medieval Flemish illuminate manuscript of the Psalms, featuring extracts of Psalms 128 and 130. The text is organised in a box on the left-hand side of the verso and the right-hand side of the recto. The script is rendered in intricate calligraphy, primarily written in dark ink, and constructed in a single column of 15 lines on each side. The opening letter of each new line has been delicately illuminated with gold ink as well as red and blue tempera. This decoration is also applied to a spine at the far side of the box of text, and in rectangular motifs filling the space between the lines.
The opening line of the verso is line 5 of Psalm 42, and reads: [et quare con]turbas me? Spera in Deo, quoniam adhuc confitebor illi, salutare vultus mei, et Deus meus, ‘[and why do you] disturb me? Hope in God, for I shall still give praise to him, my salvation, and my God’.
Psalm 128, beginning on the 2nd line of the verso, reads: saepe expugnaverunt mea iuventute mea dicat nunc Israel, ‘Often they fought against me fron my youth, let Israel now say’.
The opening line of the recto continues Line 5 of Psalm 128, and reads: et convertantur retrosum omnes qui oderunt Syon, ‘Let all those who hate Syon [be confounded] and be turned away’.
Psalm 130, beginning on the 12th line of the recto, reads: Domine non est exaltatum cor meum neque elati sunt oculi mei, ‘Lord, my heart is not exalted, nor have my eyes been raised’.
Surrounding the text on both pages is an intricate floral border of interlacing vines in dark pigment, amongst which floral and foliar motifs are detailed in red, blue and green pigments. To one side, two white birds face each other, coloured with cream pigments and intricately detailed in dark ink. The text is a fine example of the popular Medieval and Renaissance gothic book-hand script, known as letter bâtarde. This piece is in excellent condition, with some minor wear to the surface of the page, and is accompanied by a custom frame.
Date: Circa 15th Century AD
Provenance: From the private collection of Mrs T. Hedwig, by descent, 2000’s, with Belgian export licence No. 006952 Brussels.
Condition: Very fine. Minor wear to the surface of the page. This leaf comes mounted in a custom frame.
In stock
The Middle Ages in Europe saw a rise in the creation of the codex, as especially dedicated monks, known as amanuensis, devoted their lives to the recording of documents into manuscripts. The preciousness of these books translated into a proper art form, as decoration was introduced to the text and illuminated manuscripts became an artistic exercise that combined beauty with daily life objects. Bibles and special prayerbooks, called Book of Hours, were enriched with incredibly intricate designs with floral and animal motifs; gold leaf was often employed and calligraphy was used in an artistic fashion. Religious texts were of great importance, though many classical Greek and Latin literary works have survived to this day thanks to the patient work of the amanuensis, who recorded the ancient versions of the texts discovered in libraries across all of Europe, and circulated them spreading culture and leading to the establishment of universities.
The Book of Hours is a literary work of Christian devotion, which gained popularity during the Middle Ages. In addition to their stimulating content, comprising psalms, prayers, and devotional texts, these books are among the most interesting examples of medieval calligraphy and decorative practice.
To find out more about Medieval manuscripts, please see our relevant blog post: Illuminated Manuscripts and Vellum Pages
