Oraisons in French and Latin. Beautiful French manuscript from the beginning of the 15th century, calligraphed in gothic on thin vellum and bound in vellum. Contains 13 communion prayers: 12 in French, 1 in Latin. The first French prayer is the prayer of St. Ambrose and the prayer in Latin is St. Anselm's "O bone Jesu ..." The first page is illuminated with a miniature (35 x 37 mm.) representing St. Ambrose in his episcopal robes, in color and in gold against a beautiful background of celestial blue with gold stars. The page is completely framed in a border of scrolled green, blue and red florets, highlighted on a background of gold, in a large border of filiform arabesques with gilt florets. Eleven other pages are framed by illuminated motifs on the lateral margins; the motifs encircle parts of the upper and lower margins and highlight 37 illuminated initials on a background of gold. The manuscript's 16 leaves constitute the final section of a book of hours, and are in the most perfect state of conservation.
