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TEXT FROM TERCE IN THE HOURS OF THE CROSS by AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL DEPICTING THE SCOURGING OF CHRIST, FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN - ca. 1460

by AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL DEPICTING THE SCOURGING OF CHRIST, FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN

TEXT FROM TERCE IN THE HOURS OF THE CROSS by AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL DEPICTING THE SCOURGING OF CHRIST, FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN - ca. 1460

TEXT FROM TERCE IN THE HOURS OF THE CROSS

by AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A LARGE HISTORIATED INITIAL DEPICTING THE SCOURGING OF CHRIST, FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN

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Bruges, ca. 1460. 218 x 152 mm. (8 5/8 x 6"). Single column, 21 lines in a formal gothic book hand. Rubrics in red, one- and two-line initials in burnished gold on a blue and pink ground with white tracery, recto with a pink and burnished gold bar border on the left of the text, with sprays of flowers bursting from either end, and a floral panel border on the right; verso with A SIX-LINE HISTORIATED INITIAL in pink with white tracery on a burnished gold ground, CONTAINING A DEPICTION OF THE SCOURGING OF CHRIST, the same side with A FULL FLORAL BORDER filled with blue and gold acanthus, sprays of flowers and fruit, and many tiny gold bezants. One corner repaired, with consequent blurring to a tiny bit of the border, minor marginal smudges, otherwise a fine leaf, generally clean and smooth, with comfortable margins, vibrant colors, and glowing gold. The small but remarkably detailed scene here shows Jesus tied to a red pillar in the middle of a large room, its tessellated floor, stone walls, and barrel ceiling adding depth. On either side of Christ is a soldier in helmet, tunic, and leg armor with an upraised cat-o'-nine-tails. Tiny red welts have already appeared on Christ's body, but his expression is gentle and forgiving. One soldier shows enthusiasm for his task, while the bored expression on the face of the other brings to mind the phrase "banality of evil." The small but remarkably detailed scene here shows Jesus tied to a red pillar in the middle of a large room, its tessellated floor, stone walls, and barrel ceiling adding depth. On either side of Christ is a soldier in helmet, tunic, and leg armor with an upraised cat-o'-nine-tails. Tiny red welts have already appeared on Christ's body, but his expression is gentle and forgiving. One soldier shows enthusiasm for his task, while the bored expression on the face of the other brings to mind the phrase "banality of evil."