"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, rubrics in dark red, one 2-line initial in gold on burgundy, line-filler in gold on blue, one large initial 'G' (opening ""Gratias tibi ago omnipotens deus qui mem[or] ...""), in white acanthus leaves enclosing realistic flowers on gold grounds, with full border of same with sprays of fruit and flowerheads, a ladybird, a butterfly and a small bird (all in apparent Ghent/Bruges style), a few tiny chips to paint, else in outstanding condition"
These leaves from an opulently illuminated Spanish prayerbook were acquired by the present owner in Christie's, London, 13 June 2012, lot 4, where links were drawn to the biorder 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
