French Manuscript Leaf with Saint Julian of Brioude

A beautifully decorated vellum leaf from a Late Medieval early Renaissance Franco-Flemish Book of Hours, dating to the 15th century. The leaf contains two columns of written text in Latin, a fine example of the popular Medieval script, used extensively for French vernacular books, known as lettre bâtarde. The leaf is executed in brown, red, green, yellow and blue tempera, gold and liquid gold on both sides. Initials are beautifully rendered in liquid gold, standing on colourfully painted grounds. The recto left border displays an elaborate panel of acanthus and floral motifs, rendered in blue, yellow and green tempera, with finely detailed flowers, fruits and leaves. The recto features also an extremely elaborate initial, letter S, rendered in dark blue ink, standing on a purple ground, further enriched by gold scrolls. To the centre the refiguration of a saint, portrayed standing, wearing a full armour, and holding a long cross-topped spear and a shield. The figure is rendered in gold pigment, emerging from a red ground. The capital S marks the beginning of the life of Saint Julian of Brioude: Sanctus igitur Iulianus Viennensi ortus urbe. The miniature of the saint matches the iconography of Saint Julian of Brioude, who is usually portrayed richly armoured and holding a long staff or sword. An exquisite leaf testifying the refinement of Medieval and Renaissance amanuensis and calligraphers.