Catalog Archive
Auction 99, Lot 588

"[Illuminated Leaf]", Hardouin, Gilles

Subject: Early Printing

Period: 1526 (published)

Publication: Horae B.V.M. Secundumusum Romanvorn

Color: Hand Color

Size:
4.5 x 7 inches
11.4 x 17.8 cm
Download High Resolution Image
(or just click on image to launch the Zoom viewer)

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.

Beautiful and unusual calendar leaf for November and December. Each side includes an illuminated capital in red or blue, highlighted in gold. The text is surrounded by elaborate scenes, which are fully hand colored iron engravings.

References:

Condition: A

A bit of stray green color in margins.

Estimate: $200 - $230

Sold for: $230

Closed on 6/12/2002

Archived