Case 12
Single leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin. Northern France (perhaps Paris), early sixteenth century. Reed MSF36.
This leaf from a Renaissance era Book of Hours contains a miniature depicting the Annunciation to the Shepherds preceding Tierce in the Hours of the Virgin. The page is bordered by a pair of classical Roman columns, as if the viewer is inside a building looking out on the scene.
The complete manuscript was water-damaged in a London storm in 1846. Leaves were subsequently cut from the volume, trimmed, and inset into new sheets of vellum.
Single leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin. Northern France (perhaps Paris), early sixteenth century. Reed MSF36.
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Single leaf from a Gradual, in Latin. Northern Europe, sixteenth century. Reed MSF37.
This cutting from a Renaissance-era manuscript contains the opening initial from the Mass for Easter.
The very large initial ‘R’ in heavily raised burnished gold is infilled and surrounded by flowers, fruit, foliage, a cherub, a hound, a deer, a snail, a butterfly, a bird, a snake, and the profile of a bearded Green Man. The style is northern Renaissance, either Netherlandish or Spanish in the Netherlandish style.
Single leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin. Northern France, fifteenth century. Reed MSF19.
This leaf contains a large miniature painting, in an arched compartment, depicting the Flight into Egypt of Joseph, Mary and the Christ Child, fleeing from the dangers of Roman occupation. The miniature is bordered by vines, leaves, flowers and fruit. The text is from the opening of the service of Vespers for the Hours of the Virgin.
