"O LORD REBUKE ME NOT IN THY INDIGNATION": LOVELY ILLUMINATED LEAF FROM AN EARLY 15TH-CENTURY FRENCH BOOK OF HOURS, FEATURING A HAND-COLORED IMAGE OF KING DAVID

(ILLUMINATED LEAF). Illuminated Leaf from a Book of Hours. France, or Flanders, first half of the 15th century. Single parchment leaf (4-1/4 by 6 inches), illuminated in gold, black, white, gray, red, pink, green, blue, and brown inks. Window matted with silk front and framed, entire piece measures 10 x 12-1/2 inches. $7800.

Lovely illuminated miniature from a French (or maybe Flemish) Book of Hours, featuring a hand-colored image depicting King David kneeling at penitent prayer with his harp cast down beside him, above three lines of text in Gothic script with a three-line initial "D" in blue, red, and rose filigree on a burnished gold ground, surrounded by a border of flowers, berries, buds, and acanthus leaves.

This beautiful illuminated miniature is from a Book of Hours from the first half of the 15th-century, almost certainly France or Flanders. The miniature depicts the King David at prayer, pleading with God for forgiveness. The image depicts a crowned David on his knees and in prayer, with his traditional harp off to one side, forgotten as he gazes up toward Heaven, with forested hills in the background. The text is the beginning of Psalm 6, and reads, "Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me," or "O Lord rebuke me not in thy indignation [nor chastise me in thy wrath]." The border is rendered delicately with black sprays leading to green and gilt leaves and multicolored flowers. The verso features 15 lines of Latin Gothic script, decorated with four one-line initials and four line extenders, all in red, blue, gold and white inks. Text in Latin.

Evidence of damp along upper and outer margin, just slightly affecting sky and outer border, with some faint bleeding of the black ink and a touch of darkening, not affecting King David. Very good condition. Beautifully framed.