Book of Hours Leaf, c. 1500

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 & line ending in red with liquid gold infill. Five two-line initials and five one-line initials in gold alternating on red and sepia ground with gold penwork. Elaborate panel borders in acanthus & floral motifs on grounds of blue, red, sepia and liquid gold. Thisleaf is for the Hours of the Holy Spirit. The two-line N” (recto) begins the Hymn “Nobis sancti?’ ( Let the Holy Spirit’s grace, On our souls descending, Guide us all our journey through, Cheer us at its ending?) The two-line “O” begins the prayer “Omnipotens?” ( Almighty and everlasting God, grace of the Holy spirit that you sent your disciples on the holy day of Pentecost?). The one-line “D” opens the Hour of Prime, the next one-line “D” opens the Hour of Terce, and the next one-line “D” opens the Hour of Sext. 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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