Illuminated Manuscript Leaf from a 15th Century Book of Hours
“O Jesus, Son of God, and your Son after birth to the divine morning you have remained. Sing: My soul magnifies the Lord. Mary, virgin forever, you… Creator of heaven and earth.”
15TH CENTURY FRENCH BOOK OF HOURS LEAF WITH GOLD, FLORAL BORDERS.
Illuminated manuscript on vellum, featuring intricate floral designs in vivid shades of green, red, and blue, accented by dark brown and gold flower buds. Three large blue initials framed with gold ornamental work, and rubricated text appears in bright red. Each side contains 15 lines of text. The content includes a passage resembling the Gospel of Luke 1:46 (“My soul magnifies the Lord”) along with prayers of faith.
Latin reads:
“Tue tui ihe fili da̅s de et filius tuus post au̅ partum diuo matini xx̃mansista. Cantai Magnificat anima mea dominum. Maria uirgo semper te. tare celi et terre conditor. quia de tuo sacro protu lista mundi saluator. miserere misere fores misericordie miserta. luce patebit aula ḡle honor in genere archi….
Noua federa & uetera gr(…) corde soluere o benigna poteris dono saum dne. Tu cigna gra(tia) man(…) sc̃e. Quae digna laetau(n)tur in artius clemenciae orum refugiū fontē te pugnanāt venedūm. Ihesuu plena fac me ritur suppliant. Aue Maria x̄e ihu Retribuet seruitio…”
In English:
“Protect your [people], O Jesus, Son of God, and your Son after birth to the divine morning you have remained. Sing: “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Mary, virgin forever, you… Creator of heaven and earth. Because from your sacred [womb] came forth the Savior of the world. Have mercy, have mercy, gates of mercy, be merciful. The hall of glory will be revealed in light, [and] honor in the lineage of the arch [angels/archbishops]…
New covenants and old you, O merciful one, are able to release from the heart. By the gift of salvation, Lord, you can do this. You, marked with grace, holy hand, who are worthy to rejoice in the mercy of the court, [are] the refuge of prayers, the fountain against those who fight and assail. Jesus, full [of grace], make me … the suppliant. Hail Mary. Christ Jesus will repay [the] service…”
The text contains prayers of penitence, faith, and grace. It also incorporates references to the Gospels. Books of Hours, the most widely produced manuscripts before the invention of printing, contained the cycle of daily devotions for Christian worship.
Size of Leaf: 126 x 83 mm
Likely Paris: c. 1475. Somewhat closely cropped top border. Overall in excellent condition.
Price: $375 .