Four Continuous Pages of an Illuminated Manuscript Book of Hours

Illuminated Manuscript Bifolium from the Hours of the Virgin

Notes: A lovely, continuous bifolium (two connected leaves) on parchment from an illuminated manuscript of the Hours of the Virgin, likely French in origin, from the 15th century. This manuscript fragment is decorated with fourteen small initials decorated in gold, and several more in red and blue ink.

The Latin text is from the Office of Our Blessed Lady at Compline (Officium Beatae Mariae ad completorium). The text commences at verse 3 of Psalm 129 (modern Psalm 130, "Out of the depths I cry to you") and includes all of Psalm 130 (now 131), the hymn "Memento salutis auctor", verses from Ecclesiastes 24 and Luke 2, and ends with the first lines of the prayer, "Beatae, et gloriosae semperque virginis Mariae."

Continuous bifolia (two attached leaves) are somewhat uncommon, as they are only present at the center of a gathering (or quire) of sheets. When unfolded, the four pages run 4-1 on one side and 2-3 on the other.

9-1/2 by 7 inches.

Edition + Condition: A very attractive piece, with an old fold in the center, with small holes in the fold where the binding thread used to be. Otherwise a nice, clean example.

Publication: (France?): (15th Century?).

Item No: #307316

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