Gently arched miniature of a funeral service; on the left four priests sing from a noted Missal, faced by monks with black copes. Three, hooded mourners in black sit in front of the large coffin which is covered with a red pall, embroidered with a crown device to match those adorning the screen in the background; two candles are set on the floor. Fine ornamental border composed of large coloured acanthus, hair-line stems with gold balls and coloured flowers.
Size of leaf: 188 x 138 mm. (miniature: 95 x 63mm.) 7 lines of liturgical gothic text, 1430.
A large miniature from a Book of Hours of probably provincial origin, with figures naively but attractively drawn and with appealing attention to detail, from the floor tiles to the vaulted ceiling of the chapel. The miniature introduces the Office of the Dead with the opening antiphon, Placebo Domini.
This is a typical representation of the funeral mass, with monks and mourners gathered around the coffin at the foot of the altar, and elaborately robed priests singing from a missal; this miniature would have been intended to encourage its owner to meditate on ars moriendi, the art of dying well after a life of penitence, devotion and good works.
In excellent condition, minor smudging to border, small stain in lower blank margin..
