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FROM A SMALL PSALTER-HOURS IN LATIN, WITH IMMENSELY CHARMING MARGINALIA.
(France: first half of 14th century). 110 x 82 mm. (4 3/8 x 3 1/4"). Single column, 12 lines in a gothic book hand.
One of these leaves beautifully framed. Rubrics in red, line enders in pink and blue with gold accents, each leaf with one or more one-line initials in blue with red penwork or gold with blue penwork, some leaves with one two-line initial painted pink, blue, and/or orange and INHABITED BY HUMAN FACE, all on a gold ground, one side of each leaf with A FULL BORDER composed of pink and blue tendrils accompanied by spikey gold decoration and gold accents, often terminating in ivy leaves, and incorporating EXTRAORDINARILY CHARMING EXAMPLES OF MARGINALIA, INCLUDING BEASTS AND HUMAN-BEAST HYBRIDS. ◆One framed leaf with a one to two inch closed tear just touching one of the marginalia (but well masked in its frame), one leaf with a little slight staining in one margin, very light rubbing or smudging in a couple of places, but still excellent specimens, THE MARGINALIA BEAUTIFULLY PRESERVED.
Though diminutive in size, these leaves contain enormously appealing marginal decoration in the form of humans, animals, and hybrid creatures inventively incorporated into the lively borders in manners that range from adorable to bizarre. Especially popular in Flanders, Northern France, and England during the 13th and 14th centuries, marginalia such as these comprise some of the most memorable and entertaining images to be found in any Medieval manuscripts. Despite being found largely in religious books such as Psalters and Books of Hours, the images are often strange, humorous, or even outrageous, and they provide us with consistent delight. Being by definition outside of the central text or miniature, the margins seem to have been a place where illuminators felt more at ease to experiment, resulting in highly imaginative and unique artistic expressions. The present specimens come from a fragmentary manuscript, with many leaves either missing or rendered defective where portions of the vellum were cut away. Fortunately, this group of leaves is intact and retains much marvelous imagery, including small animals, hybrid creatures with human heads and the bodies of beasts, a woman with a particularly stunning headdress composed of gold and painted wings, her mouth open as if to sing, a fantastic creature with long ears and a tail, and a trumpeter emerging from a tendril and blowing into a particularly long instrument measuring the width of the text. Marginalia of this caliber and in the kind of condition seen here is becoming increasingly rare on the market, making these examples particularly desirable. For additional leaves from this same manuscript at different price points, please check our website. (ST16985R)
Price: $5,000.00