Single leaf, 130 by 95mm, ruled in red ink for single column of 16 lines of a round Spanish Renaissance bookhand, ornamental capitals touched in wash, rubric in dark red, four one- and 2-line initials in gold on burgundy or blue, line-filler in gold on burgundy, one large initial 'G' (opening ""Gratias tibi ago omnipotens deus qui mem[or] ...""), in gold acanthus leaves on green ground, with full border of same arranged in ornamental panels enclosing jewels (that at head between two dragons) and a chalice at foot flanked by Renaissance dolphins, on blue or burgundy grounds, a few tiny chips to paint, else in outstanding condition
Leaf from an opulently illuminated Spanish prayerbook, acquired by the present owner in Christie's, London, 13 June 2012, lot 4, where links were drawn to the border ornament here and Giovan Pietro Birago's work in the Hours of Bona Sforza (British Library, Addit. 59874), a manuscript that reached Charles V in Spain c. 1521. The same prayers can be found in a Book of Hours made for the wife of Charles V, Isabella of Portugal (San Marino, Huntington Library, H M 1162), and she is most probably the 'Elisabeth' named here. The parent book of our leaf may well have been made for her, a member of her household or a follower of hers
