This leaf is from the brief transitional period when the new technology of printing with movable type was combined with the more labor intensive methods of hand painting. The earliest printers were trained in the manuscript tradition and incorporated the conventions of historiated initials and illustrations into their early work. At first they left those spaces blank for the illuminator to complete entirely by hand. Later they developed printing methods (using woodcuts or iron engravings) to decorate the leaves.

This pair of vellum bifolia features Latin text with initials illuminated in red, blue and burnished gold leaf, surrounded by elaborate iron engravings that include biblical scenes. The text includes parts of Psalms 41, 50 and 148, as well as Job 17. From the Paris workshop of Jean (Jehan) de Poitevin.

References:

Condition: A

A bit of marginal soiling. The two bifolia are still attached with the original string.