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IM-10513: (127 x 92mm) Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 15 lines of red-ruled, Latin text, written with dark brown ink in gothic book-hand script on animal vellum. One three-line illuminated initial in blue on a burnished gold ground with a floral interior design in pink and blue; one two-line illuminated initial in burnished gold on blue and pink ground.  Northern France (Paris), c. 1420-30.

Miniature painting (65x45mm) illuminated by a master of the Boucicaut School depicting St. Katherine (patron saint of philosophers & preachers):  St. Katherine is shown standing with a sword and a palm of martyrdom before the crowd of pagan philosophers sent by Emperor Maxentius to convert her.  The scene is set outdoors with a colored and gold tessellated background. The miniature is surrounded by text-frame bars on three sides in blue, pink and burnished gold with full borders of foliage with multi-colored acanthus-leaf sprays at corners.

This leaf continues the Suffrages of the Saints.  Suffrages attest to the deep personal connection between saints and ordinary medieval people. The text begins the Suffrage of St. Katherine ''Ave...'' (Hail glorious Katherine...). The two-line illuminated ''O'' begins the prayer:  ''Omnipotens....'' (Almighty, everlasting God...).

Provenance:  Sotheby's - ex G. Barilla of Geneva, and formerly Frederick Fowler collection (England c. 1820's)