An original illuminated vellum leaf from a French Book of Hours, produced circa 1450. Written in an elegant Gothic textualis script on fine vellum, the manuscript features alternating illuminated initials in burnished gold on blue and rose grounds with red rubrication throughout. Books of Hours were the most popular private devotional manuscripts of the late Middle Ages and were used for daily prayer.
Unlike other leaves from this manuscript containing the Gradual Psalms or Marian prayers, this leaf preserves liturgical versicles and responses, including the antiphon "Audi nos", verses from Psalm 120 (121), and the opening of Psalm 129 (130), De Profundis, one of the Seven Penitential Psalms.
The recto continues Marian devotional material before transitioning into the prayer:
Sancta et immaculata virginitas, quibus te laudibus efferam nescio...
("Holy and Immaculate Virginity, with what praises shall I extol thee...")
followed by the familiar blessing:
Benedicta tu in mulieribus et benedictus fructus ventris tui.
("Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.")
The verso contains short liturgical versicles and responses including:
Audi nos.
("Hear us.")
It then incorporates verses from Psalm 120 (121):
Dominus custodit te ab omni malo; custodiat animam tuam.
("The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; He shall preserve thy soul.")
The leaf concludes with the opening of Psalm 129 (130), De Profundis:
De profundis clamavi ad te, Domine...
("Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.")
These prayers formed part of the daily cycle of devotion within a medieval Book of Hours.
Good antique condition with expected age-related toning, light edge wear, minor staining, and natural waviness of the vellum. Please review all photographs carefully.
Approximately 4 x 3 inches (10.2 × 7.6 cm).
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