Leaf from a Book of Hours: Initial D

Description

This leaf presents an extravagant visual feast that is both colorful and delicate. The parent codex to which this leaf belonged, still intact as recently as 1983, was made for use in the Diocese of Soissons. The manuscript listed Saint Medard of Soissons in its litany, which suggests that Soissons was also the city where the manuscript was made. A prayer to Saint Anne written in an Italian hand is also in the manuscript, and may indicate that it was taken to Italy during the 1400s.

Provenance

Marquess of Bute, MS. 128 (G. 23) [sold London, Sotheby's, 13 June 1983, lot 6]; [H. P. Kraus, New York]

Leaf from a Book of Hours: Initial D

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c. 1400

Accession Number

2005.203

Medium

ink, tempera and gold on vellum

Dimensions

Leaf: 15.5 x 11.5 cm (6 1/8 x 4 1/2 in.)

Classification

Manuscript

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection