Illuminated manuscript leaves
Group of leaves from liturgical manuscripts
£756
Rare Books, Manuscripts, Maps & Photographs
Auction: 21 September 2023 at 10:00 BST
Description
France or northern Europe, probably 15th century unless otherwise suggested, all on vellum, mounted, framed and glazed (not examined out of frames), comprising:
1) 'Per adventum spiritus sancti paracliti ... ' (Litany of the Saints), possibly 14th century, rotunda script, 12 lines, 7 initials in red and blue, mount aperture 8 x 6.4cm.
2) 'Beati quorum remiss[a]e sunt iniquitates ... ' (Psalm XXXI), quadrata script, 15 lines, 2-line initial 'B' in blue on gold ground with two extenders flourishing into broad penwork foliate border in gold and colours, 4 single-line initials all in gold on red and blue ground, 17 x 11cm;
3) 'Putruerunt et corrupt[a]e sunt cicatrices meae' (Psalm XXXVII), quadrata script, 15 lines, 5 intitials in gold on red and blue ground, broad penwork foliate border in gold and colours, 11 x 11cm;
4) 'Et dixit ut dispideret eos ...' (Psalm CV), possibly 13th/14th century, semi-quadrata script, 16 lines, 6 initials alternately in red or blue, decorative line-fillers in red and blue, 15 x 11.4cm;
5) 'Obsecro te ...' ('I beseech you', Marian prayer, probably from a book of hours), quadrata script, 16 lines, large initial in gold on blue red and blue ground with marginal extenders terminating in foliate finials, one further initial in blue with red penwork infill and surround, rubricated heading, 16.3 x 11cm;
6) 'Verba mea auribus percipe ... ' (Psalm V), semi-quadrata (perhaps with elements of lettre bâtarde), 22 lines, one 2-line initial in white bodycolour on gold ground with floral infill, 7 further one-line initials in gold on blue or red ground, similar line-fillers, large polychromatic border on right-hand side containing foliate scroll and flowers, 16.4 x 11.4cm
7) 'Ipsi vero i[n] vanum qu[a]esierunt ...' (Psalm LXII), lettre bâtarde, 13.7 x 9.4cm, 3 initials in gold on red and blue ground, polychromatic penwork border on left-hand side;
8) 'Et exprobravit incredulitatem ...' (Mark 16), lettre bâtarde, 14 lines, 4 initials (2 in gold with black penwork surround, 2 in blue with red penwork surround), 9 x 7.5cm