Photographs and descriptions of literary leaves
 from the Lorraine Lemire Medieval Manuscript Collection now on permanent display in
the Alison Eliason Library. You may view these items by appointment at the Library.
These leaves are not for sale.

Contact:  Marc Belair, 360-738-4919
marcjamesllc@comcast.net

Book of Hours, 1506

A leaf from a printed Book of Hours by Simon Vostre, printed in Paris, 1506,
in Latin, on paper.
There are twenty-six lines of printed Batarde text surrounded by woodcut historiated borders.
Small manuscript initials and paragraphs marks alternately in red and blue throughout.
An uncolored leaf, apart from the initials, and unlike most Parisian editions from this
period, is printed on paper, which from its more fragile nature renders such a leaf scarcer
than those on vellum.
182 x 110 mm

Woodblock of St. Gregory, Simon Vostre Close-up

	Recto: This leaf is from The Hours of The Virgin, at Terce and features a lovely full page miniature of the Annunciation to the Shepherds.  The verso contains Psalms 120 and 121.*
	The Recto of this leaf features the prayers for St. Gregory and includes the quarter miniature of St. Gregory (pictured above.)*
	The Verso of the above leaf.

	The Recto of this leaf features The Office of The Dead at vespers and includes Psalms 118 and 137. A quarter miniature features the devil stabbing a bishop.*
	The Verso of the above leaf.*

Fascinating Border woodcuts depicts The Dance of Death Sequence. This is the border of the recto of the leaf above. The Danse, Macabre is a medieval dance in which a skeleton representing death leads a procession of others to the grave and is a late-medieval allegory on the universality of death: no matter one's station in life, the Dance of Dean unites us all.*

	The Recto of this leaf features the prayers for St. Mary Magdalene and St. Catherine of Alexanderia.(pictured below.)*
	The Verso of the above leaf with a wonderful miniature of St. Margaret of Antioch. (pictured below) .*
	St. Catherine of Alexanderia about to be beheaded.  contained within this miniature are the symbols of her martyrdom, a broken wheel and the sword.*

	The miniature reveals Mary Magdalene being brought into Heaven by the angels.  According to the Golden Legend, Mary Magdalene was brought into Heaven seven time as day while she lived as a hermit.*
	St. Margaret of Antioch is featured in the third quarter miniature. She is depicted with her main attribute, a dragon which she fought and defeated as well as a Crucifix, the symbol of her Christian Faith.*
	The Recto of this leaf features the prayers for Saintes Peter and Paul and St. James.(pictured below.)*

	The Verso of the above leaf with a wonderful miniature of St. Stephen. (pictured below) .*
	Saints Peter and Paul.*

	St. James is shown with his main attributes, a Pilgrim's Staff and a Book.*
	This quarter miniature depicts the stoning of St. Stephen.*

	Recto: This leaf is from the Gospel of  Matthew 2: 1-12, The lesson for the Feast of The Epiphany. A lovely quarter miniature of Matthew the Evangelist working upon his Gospel with the angel nearby to provide inspiration is revealed.*
	The Verso of the above leaf. Woodcuts feature various scenes from medieval life.*

	The Recto of this leaf features the Hours of The Cross, at Vespers and reveals a quarter miniature of Christ being removed from the Cross.*
	The Verso: The center woodcut features a scene from the Annunciation and the lower woodcut revels a scene from the marriage of Joseph and Mary.*

Simon Vostre's Device

* Provenance:  Anthony L. Griffon Ph.D. Collection, Griffon's Medieval Manuscripts.

More literary leaves displays:  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10   Next

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