This exquisite leaf comes from one of the most important Gothic Bibles of the 14th century — the Saint Albans Bible, produced in Paris around 1320–1340 by an atelier connected to Jean Pucelle and the Saint Louis Master (Mahiet). These illuminators defined the refined, linear Gothic style that bridged the medieval and early Renaissance worlds.
Written in an elegant Gothic textura quadrata in two columns of 46 lines per page, this leaf preserves text from the Book of Ezekiel, chapters 21–23, a powerful passage foretelling divine judgment and renewal. The scribe ruled the vellum in red ink, producing uniform lines of remarkable precision.
The leaf features a tall illuminated border of alternating blue and burnished gold with fine black penwork and floral extensions inhabited by delicate foliate motifs. The artistry is subtle yet masterful — a hallmark of early 14th-century Parisian workmanship.
The parent Bible was owned in the Middle Ages by St. Albans Abbey in England — one of the kingdom’s greatest Benedictine houses. Its leaves are now dispersed among world collections including the Bibliothèque Nationale de France, the University of Colorado, and the Tokyo National Museum of Western Art.
Details • Date: c.1320–1340 • Origin: Paris, France • Provenance: From the Saint Albans Bible (St. Albans Abbey, England) • Text:Ezekiel 21–23 • Script: Gothic Textura Quadrata • Material: Fine vellum (animal parchment) • Layout: Double columns, 46 lines per page, red ruling • Dimensions: 11½ × 8 in. (293 × 200 mm) • Decoration: Blue and red initials with white penwork, burnished gold accents, illuminated marginal border • Condition: Excellent; minimal age toning, strong ink contrast, wide margins
This leaf represents a masterwork of 14th-century manuscript illumination — a genuine fragment of medieval devotion, Parisian artistry, and Benedictine history.
