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Lot n° 23

ENLUMINATION. CHOIR BOOK. Leaf from an antiphonary...

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[ENLUMINATION]. [CHOIR BOOK]. Leaf from an antiphonary or choir book. Initial A historiated; on the back music with square notation on 4-line staves. Decollation of Saint John the Baptist, Salome receiving the head of John the Baptist Tempera, ink and liquid gold on parchment. France, Paris (?), circa 1500. Framed sheet. Dimensions at sight : 85 x 115 mm Good condition, traces of paper stuck to the back. The executioner holds the decapitated head of Saint John the Baptist in front of Salome who is holding a plate ready to receive it. This is the scene that precedes the presentation of the saint's head by Salome to Herodias. The decapitated and bloody body of John the Baptist hangs out of the window of the prison. This scene is closely reminiscent of another composition attributed to the Master of Philip of Guelders, Life of Christ by Ludolph of Saxony (Lyon, BM, MS 5125, fol. 240v, dated 1506).