TEXT FROM THE HOURS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

A MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN DUTCH, WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL DEPICTING PENTECOST

Published by ca. 1470-80, Netherlands, 1470

About this Item

164 x 123 mm. (6 1/2 x 4 7/8"). Single column, 17 lines, in a gothic hand. Capitals touched with red, rubrics in red, one-line initials in red or blue, one two-line initial in blue, A VERY LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL (approximately 60 mm. square) DEPICTING PENTECOST, the initial painted blue with white tracery on a burnished gold ground, surrounded by A FULL BORDER decorated with colorful acanthus, large flowers, strawberries, insects (including a grasshopper, fly, moth, and mosquito(?)), all on a liquid gold ground. See: Marrow, et al., "The Golden Age of Dutch Manuscript Illumination," nos. 79-81. â Margins just faintly soiled, gold very slightly rubbed, but IN FINE CONDITION, the initial and border beautifully preserved. This is an extraordinarily handsome leaf, featuring an oversized historiated initial depicting Pentecost, attributed to the circle of the Master of the London Jason. Our artist has made remarkable use of space, fitting 13 clearly defined people within an initial opening measuring 45 x 32 mm. The Virgin sits enthroned directly in the center, encircled by the Apostles dressed in blue, violet, green, and orange robes. Our artist cleverly adds a notch at the top of initial--like a cupola inside a chapel--in order to fit an image of a dove inside the scene. The figures show an impressive degree of individualization and emotional response as they witness the descent of the Holy Spirit; a few gesture in surprise, two lower their gaze, and some look up in awe. The work is stylistically like that of the Master of the London Jason, named for his work on the "Historie van Jason" manuscript now housed at the British Library. As Marrow et al. note, the Master's style is characterized by "somewhat short, heavy figures [that] are well formed and have unusual, slightly broad yet expressive faces with deep sunken eyes." Our leaf's enclosing border is of very considerable interest, featuring as it does naturalistic flowers, strawberry plants, insects, and a small, brightly colored bird, all painted in colors that perfectly complement the main scene. A very fine production all around, this distinctive, energetic leaf would make a notable addition to any collection. Seller Inventory # ST19885

Bibliographic Details

Title: TEXT FROM THE HOURS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Publisher: ca. 1470-80, Netherlands

Publication Date: 1470