The Illuminated Manuscript Company: Psalm 126 from a 15th Century French Book of Hours

Psalm 126 from a 15th Century French Book of Hours

the inheritance of the Lord are children

Detail. Additional images below.

Psalm 126 from a 15th century French Book of Hours. 16 lines of text on each side written in a gothic script on vellum. Leaf contains 1 2-line initial "N" for "Nisi" which opens the psalm in burnished gold, decorated with blue & red paint and white tracery . 11 1-line initials in alternating blue with red penwork or burnished gold with black penwork. Stunning border on each side on a gold background with a rich foliate design of blue flowers, pink thistles, and red, blue, & white acanthus leaves. Two blue banners with red undersides drape across each border boldly praising Mary. Verso in excellent condition. Recto has some minor smudging to border.

Size: 150 x 111 mm (approx 5.9 x 4.4 inches)

$495 # IMC5282

Frame available for this item.

Text in Latin

Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem frustra vigilavit qui custodit. Vanum est vobis ante lucem surgere surgere postquam sederitis qui manducatis panem doloris cum dederit dilectis suis somnum. Ecce hereditas Domini filii mercis fructus ventris. Sicut sagittae in manu potentis ita filii excussorum

Unless the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it. Unless the Lord keep the city, he watcheth in vain that keepeth it. It is vain for you to rise before light, rise ye after you have sitten, you that eat the bread of sorrow. When He shall give sleep to His beloved, behold the inheritance of the Lord are children: the reward, the fruit of the womb. As arrows in the hand of the mighty, so the children of them that have been shaken. (English translation)

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