Recto: Text in Latin written in two columns on high quality vellum in black ink in two sizes of an assured Gothic bookhand. Pricking marks on the left margin. Ruled in red, rubrics in red and some initials touched in yellow. Six exquisite two-line illuminated initials in pink and blue outlined in black and finished with fine white penwork. The initials are on highly burnished gold grounds and infilled with a variety of coloured foliate designs. Four have illuminations radiating into the margins of black tendrils bearing coloured acanthus and other flowers, green leaves and burnished gold ivy leaves and bezants.
Verso: As Recto, with a further three equally fine two-line illuminated initials.
Origin: Northern France/Flanders, for the Use of Sarum (Salisbury).
Date: c.1475
Content: The illuminated initial ‘F’, the first of the left column on Recto begins the Epistle, which is taken from Isaiah 58:7:
Frange esurienti panem tuum et egenos vagosque induc in domum tuam? Cum videris nudum operi eum, et carnem tuam ne despexeris?
(Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?)
Then follows the antiphon: Absolve quaesumus domine.
Condition: The leaf is in pristine condition on clean, fine vellum and displays jewel-like illuminations as colourful and lustrous as the day they were done, well over 500 years ago. Archivally mounted. Unconditionally guaranteed genuine.
Size: Leaf: approx. 190x140 mm. Please note that shipping is invoiced separately.
Item No: MOT103
