Medieval Illuminated Vellum Leaf from the Book of Genesis

PARIS, 13TH CENTURY A.D.

11 1/4 x 11 1/4 in. (620 grams total, 28.6 x 28.6 cm).

A large illumination with silver and gold highlights, a tall capital 'I' occupying the left margin, depicting the seven scenes of the Creation of the World within an interlacing design terminating in small leaves, fine Gothic script with red punctuation; set in a gilt glazed frame.

Provenance

Piasa, Paris, 25 June 2015, no.7.
Private collection, UK.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13381-259016.

Literature

Cf. Herbert, J.A., Illuminated Manuscripts, London, 1911, pl.XXVI, for a similar miniature style in the Gospel lectionary of Paris, late 13th century.

Footnotes

This large initial introduces the text of the Book of Genesis—the opening phrase of which, *IN PRINCIPIO CREAVIT DEVS* ('In the beginning God created'), can be read along its right edge—extending to Chapter 3, verse 18. The large initial is embellished with burnished gold but, notably, also with silver—a feature that is extremely rare in the art of illumination from this period.

CONDITION

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LOT 0303