AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH TWO CHARMING MINIATURES SHOWING THREE SAINTS IN ALL FROM A FINE BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN.

TEXT FROM THE SUFFRAGES.

      Bruges, ca. 1465 Single column 17 lines of text in an attractive gothic book hand. Rubrics in pink two two-line initials in blue magenta and burnished gold undulating line fillers in blue and gold BOTH SIDES OF THE LEAF WITH THREE-QUARTER PANEL BORDERS incorporating foliage blossoms and ivy leaves on hairline stems the vertical panel with a bar border of colors and burnished gold terminating at top and bottom in colorful acanthus leaves and WITH TWO SMALL BUT CHARMING MINIATURE PAINTINGS SHOWING THREE SAINTS ST. THOMAS ON THE RECTO AND ST. PHILIP AND JAMES THE APOSTLE ON THE VERSO. A few innocuous spots in the margin tiny losses of blue in the garments otherwise in fine condition generally well preserved in every important way. The artist has here combined the apostles Philip and James the Less in one frame perhaps because we know nothing more of them than that they were numbered among the original Disciples. However they are given very distinct clothing. One is portrayed as a bearded elder dressed in quiet pink and gray-blue robes while the other a dark-haired young man sports a scarlet robe highlighted with a multitude of gilt folds and a bright blue cloak. Saint Thomas however is well known and had many legends attached to him. He is the famous "Doubting Thomas" who is said to have questioned that the risen Christ was really the man he had known; he also apparently went on an apostolic mission to India. Here he holds a spear and casts his eyes up to heaven perhaps a reference to the story that he alone witnessed the assumption of the Virgin Mary to heaven. $7000 [Attributes: Hard Cover]