Illuminated Medieval Manuscript

Book of Hours on Vellum

Rare Bifolium (Double-Page) Containing Text 

From Psalm 122 and 127

Northern France or Flanders

c. 1440-1460 

Illuminated Bifolium from a Book of Hours

Northern France or Flanders, c. 1440–1460

Manuscript on vellum | Gothic script | Psalms of Ascent

Illuminated initial | Thematic focus on Jerusalem

Description:

An exceptional illuminated manuscript bifolium on vellum, from a mid-15th-century Book of Hours, most likely produced in Northern France or the Southern Low Countries. This single sheet, folded to form four pages, contains liturgical psalmody and antiphons in Latin, written in a professional Gothic textualis rotunda hand. Featuring striking illuminated initials, rubrication, and fine penwork, this bifolium represents the refined devotional culture of late medieval Europe.

The text includes selections from Psalm 127 and Psalm 122, both from the group traditionally known as the Psalms of Ascent, frequently used in the Hours of the Virgin (likely Prime or Terce). These Psalms express the pilgrim’s joy in ascending to the holy city of Jerusalem, blending poetic longing with liturgical formality—making this bifolium an especially resonant piece for collectors of sacred texts centered on place and presence.

Textual Highlights 

Psalm 127:1

Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum…

“Unless the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it…”

Psalm 122:1

Laetatus sum in his quae dicta sunt mihi: In domum Domini ibimus…

“I was glad when they said unto me: We will go into the house of the Lord…”

Psalm 122:6-7

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.”

These Psalms were traditionally recited by pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem and were integrated into the daily cycle of prayer in medieval Books of Hours. Thematically, they celebrate the security, sacredness, and unity found in Jerusalem, depicted not merely as a city but as a symbol of divine order and peace.

The bifolium also includes associated antiphons, rubrics, and the Gloria Patri, signaling its use in formal devotion.

Gloria Patri

"Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."

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Decoration

• One large illuminated initial in burnished gold, delicately framed by fine blue penwork

• Multiple red and blue Lombard initials

• Rubrics in red ink marking transitions and antiphons

• Text ruled in red, 12 lines per page

• Clear evidence of original manuscript preparation, including pricking and ruling lines

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 Origin and Dating

• Place of production: Likely Rouen (France) or a workshop in Flanders (e.g., Bruges or Ghent)

• Date: Circa 1440–1460

• Characteristic Gothic textualis, layout, and decoration suggest production for a bourgeois or minor noble patron.

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Physical Details

• Material: High-quality vellum (calfskin), smooth and well-prepared

• Dimensions: approx. 7 x 5 in 

• Folio number: “55" & "56” inscribed in upper margin in pencil

• All four pages legible and intact; some natural darkening and wear to edges; gold and pigment remain vibrant

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Significance

This bifolium is not only a superb example of 15th-century manuscript craftsmanship, but also a theologically rich artifact centering on one of Christianity’s most enduring sacred themes: Jerusalem. Within medieval devotion, Jerusalem was more than a historical city—it was a mystical symbol of divine peace, unity, and the heavenly homeland. These Psalms evoke both the longing of the pilgrim soul and the joy of arriving in God’s presence, rendered in a format designed for daily, personal prayer.

Whether for a private collector, university teaching collection, or museum, this bifolium offers a rare combination of:

• Scriptural weight

• Historical beauty

• Devotional intimacy

It is especially well-suited for:

• Collectors of medieval devotional manuscripts

• Institutions teaching medieval religion, liturgy, or pilgrimage

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