AN ESPECIALLY ATTRACTIVE ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAF ON VELLUM, FROM A MONUMENTAL EARLY PASSIONAL IN LATIN.

TEXT FROM THE LIFE OF SAINT CHRYSOGONUS AS WELL AS SAINT CLEMENT AND SAINTS AGAPE, CHIONIA, AND IRENE.

(12th century). 464 x 330 mm (18 1/4 x 13"). Double column, 38 lines, in a very fine, beautifully controlled Iberian protogothic book hand.

WITH AN EXTREMELY STRIKING EIGHT-LINE "O" in blue and burnished gold on an orange and magenta ground, THE INNER SPACE OF THE LETTER OCCUPIED BY much strapwork and A STRUTTING BIRD WITH A HUMAN HEAD. With prickings visible all along the edge of the inner margin, guide letter for the decorated initial. A small open tear at the bottom (well away from the text), otherwise in a very fine state of preservation.

All of the six leaves described here have a scribal hand of consistent beauty, but this final leaf has by far the most memorable decoration. (STCEH0901b)