Anonymous Ghent-Bruges illuminator

Anonymous Ghent-Bruges illuminator
Naturalistic Dragonflies and Butterflies in a scatter border on a leaf from a Book of Hours, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Southern Netherlands, late 15th century]
A classic example of so-called Ghent-Bruges illumination, characterised by borders of cut flowers and insects (and sometimes other animals or objects), painted against a gold background on which they cast shadows to create a trompe-l’œil effect.

c.148 x 100mm, 18 lines in batarde script, ruled space: c.87 x 60mm, comprising the opening of Sext in the Hours of the Virgin, illuminated with large and small initials surrounded by a full border. Provenance: Reiss & Sohn, Königstein, 19-20 April 2005, lot 99.

'Strewn' or 'scatter' borders such as this would often doubtless have been assigned to workshop apprentices or assistants, who took the opportunity to display their abilities to paint naturalistic flora and fauna from nature: individual species are easily recognisable.