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TEXT FROM THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
(France (probably Paris): ca. 1480). 182 x 127 mm. (7 1/4 x 5"). Single column, 18 lines, text in a gothic book hand.
Text in blue, pink, and gold, four one-line initials in gold on pink and blue ground, two-line "KL in blue with white tracery on a gold ground and decorated with pink and blue ivy, recto with A PANEL BORDER COMPOSED OF TWO MINIATURES depicting the labor of the month (Threshing) and the zodiac sign (a young woman for Virgo), verso with a panel border featuring acanthus and flowers on alternating patches of bare vellum and shell gold ground ◆Vellum a bit soiled and just faintly darkened, two quite small (natural?) holes just touching the frame of bottom miniature and panel border (but of no consequence), otherwise a very pleasing leaf and on the whole quite well preserved with attractive coloring and sparkling gold.
This is an attractive illustrated calendar leaf from a high-quality manuscript, with good-sized and appealing miniatures showing the labor of the month and the zodiac sign for August in the outer margin. According to Roger Wieck, far fewer than half the Books of Hours of the period contain illustrated calendars, "even in manuscripts with otherwise lavish cycles of miniatures"; when they do appear, they are invariably charming, as is the case here. In the threshing scene at the top, a young layman brings down his grain flail (two hinged pieces of wood, the longer one called a helve, and the other a beater, joined by a thong) in an effort to separate the grain, while a neatly gathered sheaf sits in the background. Below this scene is a representation of Virgo as a young woman holding, appropriately, a long stalk of grain in her hand. We have three other sister leaves from the same calendar, and it is interesting to note that the same young man seems to be pictured toiling away in each labor of the month; although his clothing changes from season to season, his features and distinctive hat never do. (ST17245-08)
Price: $2,750.00