"[Book of Hours Leaf]", Poitevin, Jean, de
Subject: Early Printing
Period: 1501 (published)
Publication:
Color: Hand Color
Size:
5.8 x 8.8 inches
14.7 x 22.4 cm
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 vellum leaf is part of a calendar for the months of July and August. The leaf details the number of days and moons, followed by the saint's days. The large initials KL for "kalender" are beautifully illuminated in red, blue and burnished gold leaf. The text is in Latin and is surrounded by elaborate iron engravings that include biblical scenes, such as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. From the Paris workshop of Jean (Jehan) de Poitevin.
References:
Condition: B+
Minor soiling with one small worm hole in the image and a pair of worm holes in the blank margins.