Manuscript Leaf: French Book of Hours Containing Psalms 112 and 121
“He raises the poor from the earth and lifts the needy out of the dungheap, that he may seat him with princes, with the princes of his people. ”
LEAFS FROM A 15TH-CENTURY FRENCH BOOK OF HOURS, BEAUTIFUL FLORAL DESIGNS.
Illuminated manuscript leaf on vellum from a Latin Book of Hours. Beautiful gilded design with diversely colored extensions, including dark pink, light red, and subtle shades of blue, gold, black, and green. Floral-patterned designs outside the text feature flowers and fruits. Seventeen lines of text per page.2 2-line initals and 13 1-line initials in burnished gold on pink and blue backgrounds. Red rubrics. Text includes psalms 110, 113, and 122.
Text in Latin reads:
Implebit ruinas: conquassabit capita in terra multorum. De torrente in via bibet: propterea exaltabit caput Gloria patri. Psalmus. Laudate pueri dominum: laudate nomen dñi. Sit nomen dñi benedictum ex hoc nunc usque in saeculum. A solis ortu usque ad occasum sum laudabile nomen dñi. Excelsus super omnes gentes Dominus super caelos gloria eius. Quis sicut Dominus Deus noster qui in altis habitat et humilia respiciat in caelo et in terra. Suscitans a terra inopem
Et desolatos cogens pauperem Ut collocet eum cum principibus cum principibus pꝑ sui Qui habitare facit i̅ sterilem i̅ domo matrem filioru̅ laetante̅. Gloria patri. Psalmus Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi in domum domini ibimus. Stantes erant pedes n[ost]ri in atriis tuis Ierusalem. Ierusalem que edificat[ur] ut civitas cuius participatio eius in idipsum. Illuc enim ascenderunt tribus tribus d[omi]ni: testimonium israhel ad confiten[du]m no̅i
English Translation:
He will fill [the places] with ruins; he will crush heads in the land of many. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore shall he lift up his head. Glory be to the Father.
Praise the Lord, you children; praise the name of the Lord. Blessed be the name of the Lord, from this time forth and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is high above all nations; his glory is above the heavens. Who is like the Lord our God, who dwells on high, and looks down upon the lowly in heaven and on earth? He raises the poor from the earth and lifts the needy out of the dungheap, that he may seat him with princes, with the princes of his people. He makes the barren woman dwell in a house as a joyful mother of children. Glory be to the Father.
I rejoiced at the things that were said to me: We will go into the house of the Lord. Our feet were standing in your courts, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem, which is built as a city that is compact together. For there the tribes have gone up, the tribes of the Lord, a testimony to Israel, to praise the name of the Lord.
This passage includes recitations of Psalms 110, 113, and 122 in fine Gothic Quadrata Script. This manuscript is especially notable for its intricate border drawings containing floral designs and fine detailing. These sheets are also unique for their diverse hues. As ink was often difficult to acquire, different shades of green, pink, and red might be indicative of a wealthier client able to afford more color
Size of leaf: 161 x 119 mm
Likely Paris: c. 1450. Slight staining to outer margins that does not impact text or border.
Price: $600 .