FRENCH ILLUMINATED BOOK OF HOURS LEAF, ON VELLUM - PARIS c 1532

Description

Original Illuminated Book of Hours Leaf printed on vellum
Paris, France c 1532
Text:
Passion of Christ from John
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IM-12965
:  Original leaf from a printed & beautifully hand-illuminated
Book of Hours
.
Ruled for twenty-six lines of Latin text and printed in black on animal vellum.
(Size 163 x 108mm – 6 3/8 x 4 1/4’’)
The leaf is embellished with an elaborate illuminated border on each side -
hand-painted with tempera colors in a floral motif with acanthus leaves, red roses (symbol of martyrdom), and columbines (symbol of the Holy Spirit)
on liquid gold ground.
Printed and hand-painted
with
rich sumptuous colors
in the workshop of
Germain Hardouyn
- printer and highly skilled illuminator.
Paris, c.
1532.
This leaf continues the story of the
Passion of Jesus Christ
with
John 18:4-24
: “
Itaque sciens…
” (Therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth and said to them: Whom see ye? They answered him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith to them: I am he. And Judas also, who betrayed him, stood with them…then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.  …And they led him away to Annas first, for he was father in law to Caiaphas…The maid therefore saith to Peter: Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith: I am not…And Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest…).
Medieval Books of Hours
are personal prayer books of a devout and status-conscious society and are not only works of art, but cultural documents of their time.  They reveal a unique combination of sacred and secular imagery - made of the finest materials, by the best craftsmen, for a small audience that could both appreciate and afford them. In purpose and format, printed
Books of Hours
followed the older manuscript examples. The more luxurious were printed on vellum.
This is an original, almost 500 years old, not a reproduction. It is in nice condition as shown in the photos, with stunning bright colors and gold with some light soiling from devotional use.
This leaf comes with a Certificate of Authenticity.
We have been full-time dealers in Illuminated Manuscripts, Maps, Prints and Antiquities since 1980.