AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A MINIATURE DEPICTING PENTECOST FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN.

TEXT FROM THE OPENING OF THE OFFICE OF THE HOLY GHOST.

      France, ca. 1490 - Single column three lines of text beneath the miniature (12 on verso) in an attractive gothic book hand. Rubrics in red three one- or two-line initials in burnished gold on a ground of blue or magenta with white tracery two-line fillers of similar design three-line initial in blue with white tracery enclosing flowers of orange and white the whole on a ground of burnished gold full border of acanthus leaves and other foliage and flowers the flowers partly within circles of magenta or black the border enclosing A MINIATURE PAINTING OF PENTECOST. Border trimmed at left and bottom (and just grazed at top) significant paint erosion in two faces (the Virgin's features no longer visible) otherwise very well preserved with rich coloring. In an upper room with lavender walls and a bright green tiled floor the Holy Spirit enters in the form of a dove shedding brilliance on the central figure of Mary flanked by John the Evangelist and Saint Peter. The latter's face is sensitive thoughtful.