Angel illuminated initial from Antiphonal, C15th Italian de [Gloria at Easter] Antiphonal with historiated initial - 1480

360mm × 260mm Full single leaf written on parchment in black and red ink, 15 lines on both sides of the leaf in late Romanesque rounded hand. A beautiful illuminated historiated initial blue 'D' [Deus] on a background of gold leaf within which an angel is painted with foliage spraying into the left hand margin. The illumination appears to be later, maybe C16th, but, if so, has been painted in style and in the space left for the original O illumination. Some old stains. An attractive leaf. Text: is from the Gloria at Easter Vigil Deus, qui hanc sacratissimam noctem gloria Dominicae Resurrectionis illustras, excita in Ecclesia tua adoptionis spiritum, ut, corpore et mente renovati, puram tibi exhibeamus servitutem. Jesus Christus Filius tuus Dominus noster: Qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitate Spiritus Sancti Deus: per omnia saecula saeculorum. O God, who make this most sacred night radiant with the glory of the Lord's Resurrection, stir up in your Church a spirit of adoption, so that, renewed in body and mind, we may render you undivided service. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.