Two historiated initials on leaves from illuminated manuscripts on velllum [Italy, thirteenth and fourteenth century]

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

a leaf and a bifolium: (a) leaf from a glossed copy of Gregory's Decretals, 402mm. by 285mm., with an initial 'P' (opening "Prudentes et infra. Hanc sibi ..." the opening of Book III:1, 'de donationibus') in fleshy acanthus leaves on gold and blue grounds, enclosing a portrait of a young man in red robes with a green cloak, close in style to those in Durham Cathedral, Chapter Library, MS C.I.9 (Gibbs and L'Engle, Illuminating the Law, 2001, pl.13d, and identified there as the Decretals Master), double column, another three similar uninhabited initials, and numerous smaller initials in blue or red with elaborate scrolling penwork touched in contrasting colours, 44 lines main text, recovered from a binding and hence some scuffs and a central fold (split in places), trimmed at head and foot with loss of a few lines from gloss, else good, Bologna, late thirteenth; (b) bifolium from a lectionary, each leaf 275mm. by 185mm., with an initial 'M' in blue-grey bands heightened with touches of dull-gold at the midpoint and foot, on blue ground, enclosing a bearded Christ, with delicately painted hair and a gold rimmed halo, holding a red book, other initials in red or blue with contrasting penwork, double column, 25 lines, also recovered from a binding and somewhat scuffed and water-stained with damage to edges of initial, else good, probably Tuscany or Umbria, early fourteenth century