France and Italy, 13th to 15th centuries

A group of leaves from illuminated manuscripts [France and Italy, 13th to 15th centuries]

A small collection of illuminated leaves from Books of Hours, Psalters and Choirbooks.

6 leaves, including:

(i) A leaf from a Psalter, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, late 13th century]. c.105 x 80mm. 15 lines, ruled space: 67 x 51mm., the text from Psalms 144 and 145, one champie initial with extensions into the margin and several small flourished initials, early Psalm no '146' in margin (lower margin a little stained). Mounted.

(ii) A leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, second half 14th century]. c.176 x 123mm. 14 lines, ruled space: 121 x 77mm., the text from the Hours of sext and none in a Book of Hours, illuminated initial 'S' opening none, within a full border of ivy-leaf and a dragon terminal, rubrics in French in red, illuminated initials throughout (edges a little frayed, upper margin a little cropped, some fading to the initial). Mounted and framed.

(iii) A leaf from a Breviary, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, c.1300]. c.110 x 80mm. 15 lines, ruled space: 72 x 50mm., the text from Deuteronomy, several initials with penwork flourishing. Mounted and framed.

(iv) A leaf from a Gradual, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, c.1420-30]. c.420 x 310mm., 7 lines of text and music on a 4-line red stave, one illuminated initial 'L' extending into the margin opening the introit for Wednesday in the 5th week of Lent, 'Liberator meus de gentibus', contemporary foliation 'CXXX' in red, large initials and rubrics in red (a little cockled, else in excellent condition). Mounted and framed.

(v) A leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France, c.1430-50]. c.135 x 95mm., 17 lines, written space: c.70 x 48mm., a large illuminated initial opening the hours of compline in a Book of Hours, with full foliate border enclosing a grotesque, a man sitting among the foliage, a gold crown above the two linked letters 'E L' and the motto 'Jamais aultre' (a little rubbed, but generally in good condition). Mounted and framed. A sister leaf from the same manuscript with the Seven Penitential Psalms was offered at Sotheby's, 3 December 2013, part of lot 21.

(vi) A leaf from a Gradual, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum [northern Italy, second half 15th century]. c.360 x 255mm. 6 lines of text and music on a 4-line red stave, the text from Psalm 17 followed by the gradual for the Second Sunday of Lent, contemporary foliation 'xxxv' in red, early foliation '67', large penwork initials in red and blue, rubrics in red. Mounted and framed.