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Original manuscript leaf from Legende de la Vie de Sainte Catherine (Legend of the Life of St. Catherine) by Raimondo delle Vigni. 23 red-ruled lines recto and 10 verso, written in lettre batarde script in medieval French with dark brown and red ink on animal vellum. (275 x 197 mm -10 3/4 x 7 3/4'')

Bruges, c. 1460-80.

Two two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on red and blue ground with delicate white tracery extending into the margin with a delicate floral motif in pink, blue and gold; two illuminated line extenders in pink, blue and burnished gold with delicate white tracery.

Exceptional miniature painting (76 x 105mm - 3 x 4 1/4'') depicting a segment in the Life of St. Catherine and surrounded by a gold bar.

Elaborate border surrounding painting and text in a dense floral motif in green, blue red, brushed and burnished gold. The painting and surrounding bar exhibits flaking from devotional use.

The miniature painting depicts two scenes from St. Catherine's life. On the right, she is seen ''renewing the life of the anchorites of the desert in a little room in her father's house". In the forefront St. Catherine kneels before four Dominican monks holding her attributes - including a large red heart.