[Medieval manuscripts]. Leaf from an antiphonary, Italy (Lombardy), late 15th...

[Medieval manuscripts]. Leaf from an antiphonary, Italy (Lombardy), late 15th century, Latin text in black ink on vellum, rubricated, recto and verso, ±58x45 cm. (leaf), 42x33 cm. (text), 18 lines to each page in 2 columns, scores, 1 2-lines initial in gold and various colours showing a bird w. raised wings, 17 pen-flourished initials, framed w. both sides visible.

- Some slight wear to the ink on verso.

= Decoration attributed to GIOVANNI PIETRO DA BIRAGO, also known as the Master of the Sforza Hours. According to the previous owner, a leaf from an antiphonary illuminated by Da Birago c. 1480 for an Olivetan monastery in Upper Italy. Other cuttings and leaves of this manuscript are preserved in European and American libraries. See Bauer-Eberhardt, Die italienische Miniaturen der 13.-16. Jahrhunderts (Munich, 1984, nr.18/1-16 and Abb.56-62). SEE ILLUSTRATION PLATE CXII.