Book of Hours Leaf

This is an original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 18 lines of text, ruled in red, written in Latin in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum. Rubrics in red and line ending in red with liquid gold infill. Five two-line initials and eleven one-line initials in gold alternating on red and sepia ground with gold penwork. Elaborate panel borders in acanthus and floral motifs on grounds of blue, red, sepia and liquid gold.This leaf is for the Hours of the Cross – Hours of Prime, Terce, Sext, None & Vespers. Each one-line D” begins with the opening of Psalm 69: “Deus in adiutorium?” (O God, come to my assistance; O Lord, make hast to help me?) Books of Hours are personal prayer-brooks of a devout and status-conscious society are not only works of art, but a 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 which could both appreciate and afford them.

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