"O LORD MAKE HASTE TO HELP ME": LOVELY LLUMINATED LEAF FROM A FLEMISH BOOK OF HOURS

(ILLUMINATED LEAF). Illuminated Leaf from a Book of Hours. Flanders, no date. Single vellum leaf (4 by 5-1/2 inches), illuminated in gold, red and blue inks. Double window matted and framed, entire piece measures 7-1/4 by 9-1/4 inches. $2250.

Lovely illuminated leaf from a Flemish Book of Hours, likely early 16th-Century, with 19 one-line illuminated initials and one two-line initial "D," each in gold on red or blue backgrounds.

Originally derived from the Psalter, the Book of Hours was a medieval book of prayer containing "offices," or sets of psalms, lessons, antiphons, and prayers to be recited during each of the eight hours of the day. Its main section, the Hours of the Virgin, was an office said in honor of the Virgin Mary; other offices included the Hours of the Cross and the Hours of the Holy Spirit. This lovely illuminated leaf features 17 lines on each side of gothic script, with text from a section of the litanies, including part of Psalms 124 and 125 and the Agnus Dei ("Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world…"). Text in Latin.

A beautiful illuminated leaf in fine condition, handsomely framed.