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Some page images and details taken from a mediæval Latin Book of Hours in the Rosenwald collection at the Library of Congress in America. The manuscript was once believed to have been written and decorated by Geoffroy Tory.
The pages were scanned at the Library of Congress and are online there as Ms. Library of Congress. Rosenwald ms. 10
There are 113 leaves in the manuscript, which is written on parchment approximately 24cm high (10 inches or so).
In some cases I have digitally enlarged the images so that you can use them in print projects; this makes the larger images be slightly fuzzy.
Title: Book of Hours, Rosenwald MS. 10
Published by: The Roman Catholic Church
City: Touraine
Date: 1533
Total items: 18
Out of copyright (called public domain in the USA), hence royalty-free for all purposes usage credit requested, or as marked.
Letter “I” from 16th century book of hours
The letter I painted in red and gold used as a decorative initial. This is what in calligraphy today is called a built-up letter, made with multiple pen or brush strokes. However, it was then gilded with gold. [more...] [$]
Painted miniature: a writer, with a castle in the background
I suspect this is a complex emblem painting. A man with long curly hair sits barefoot on the grass, wearing a blue robe and with a red and gold cloak on his lap. He gazes heavenward for inspiration, pen poised in one hand and book in his lap. A bird stands to his left, and in his background is a castle on a cliff, overlooking the shore. An angel [...] [more...] [$]
Letter “D” from 16th century book of hours
The letter D painted in blue and gold used as a decorative initial.
This image was on image 15 of the Library of Congress page images. [$]
Letter “I” from 16th century book of hours
The letter I painted in blue and gold used as a decorative initial.
This image was on image 15 of the Library of Congress page images. [$]
Miniature painting of a portrait artist with easel
A Mediæval (OK, Medieval in America) miniature painting taken from a Latin book of hours. The artist is wearing a red gown and a blue hood and stole or scarf. He is painting a woman, holding his brush up against the canvas—or against the wood on which he paints—which is held upright on an easel. He holds a pallette in his left hand. Behind the easel [...] [more...] [$]
Miniature painting of a scribe writing at a desk
A Mediæval (OK, Medieval in America) miniature painting taken from a Latin book of hours. A bearded scribe uses a quill pen to write in a book that rests on a wooden writing desk. He wears a blue gown and a red hood. In the background a winged angel wearing green sits clutching a large red book. Arched windows in [...] [more...] [$]
Letter “C” from 16th century book of hours
The letter C painted in red and gold used as a decorative initial.
This image was on image 16 of the Library of Congress page images. [$]
Page detail from Mediaeval Book of Hours
A fragment of a hand-written page of calligraphy from the late mediæval period—or from the Rennaissance, one might say, and made well after printing was [...] [more...] [$]
A bearded man, perhaps in his thirties or forties, sits holding a book in his lap; to his left is a writing stand with an open manuscript; he holds a quill pen to his eye. There is a lion behind him, indicating that this is Mark, the supposed author of Mark’s Gospel. Mark the Apostle, of course, would [...] [more...] [$]
Miniature: Garden of Gethsemanu
The disciples of Jesus sleep while Jesus prays, “let this cup be taken from me,” although since they were asleep no-one actually heard his prayer. The disciples are depicted as caucasian men with bare feet and halos, and the identity of the scene is confirmed by the small symbolic cup [...] [more...] [$]
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