Workshop of Thielman Kerver, “The Arrest of Jesus”, 1523

Workshop of Thielman Kerver (also known as Thielman I Kerver) (–1522)

“The Arrest of Jesus” (also known as “The Betrayal in Gethsemane”), 1523

Technical Details & Condition:

An exceptionally rare vellum leaf from the French Book of Hours “Horae B. Mariae Virginis — Hore dive virginis Marie secundum verum usum Romanum” (Hours of the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the true Roman custom) printed at the press of Thielman Kerver (by his widow, Yolande Bonhomme) in Paris.

The recto features a central woodcut —or possibly a metalcut, based on the extreme fineness of the line and use of criblée (white dots)— depicting the arrest of Jesus with an elaborate pictorial border and Latin letterpress text printed in black and red. Section headings and paragraph marks are printed in striking red rubrication alongside the black text, a hallmark of high-quality Parisian two-colour letterpress printing. Crucially, the larger initial capitals are exquisitely hand-illuminated with liquid gold leaf over hand-painted red and blue backgrounds. The verso contains Latin letterpress text printed in striking black and red inks, with a small woodcut—depicting Saint Mark writing his Gospel while accompanied by his attribute lion—framed within late-medieval woodcut marginalium panels. Initial letters in the main text are also hand-illuminated with liquid gold over red and blue backgrounds.

The finely executed illustrations are strong, crisp lifetime impressions with minimal signs of wear to the printing plates. The hand-painted gold and coloured initial letters remain beautifully preserved with virtually none of the expected rubbing, and the red printed rubrications remain sharp and clear. The vellum sheet has beautiful natural age-toning and remains in excellent (museum-quality) condition for its 500+ year age, entirely free of tears, holes, folds, or distracting stains.

Context of the Book Leaf:

Produced at the absolute peak of the Parisian print Renaissance, Thielman Kerver’s workshop was globally celebrated for its complex geometric border panels and crisp typography. This specific leaf exemplifies early French book illustration at its finest, balancing dense letterpress text against vibrant rubricated accents and genuine hand-painted gold illumination.

Dimensions:

• Sheet: 17.0 x 10.9 cm
• Inner image borderline (recto): 10.2 x 7.0 cm

Letterpress Lettering & Translations:

• Recto (John 18:1-2) “Passio domini nostri Iesu christi: secun- / dum Iohannem. / Egressus est dominus iesus cum discipulis suis / trans torrentem cedron vbi erat ortus: in quem / introiuit ipse & discipuli eius. Sciebat autem & iudas”
(Translation: “The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to John. / The Lord Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron Valley, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas also knew it.”)
• Verso (Matthew 2:10-11 & Mark 16:14-20): “gaudio magno valde. Et itrātes domū: iue … nē cōfirmāte sequētibus signis. Deo gras.”
(Translation: “...with exceeding great joy. And entering the house… confirming the word with signs that followed. Thanks be to God.”)

References:

• Marie Berthail, “The First French Engravers: A Nascent Art of Book Illustration”, 1986, Nantes, Loire-Atlantique Departmental Museums, p. 88, cat. no. 33
• Chase Shepard, “08, Comparison of Two Books of Hours Printed by Thielman Kerver” (2018): https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/31078

Price & Shipping:

AU$544 (approx. US$379.86 / €338.23 / £282.35), including worldwide express shipping. Import duties and taxes (if applicable) are the buyer’s responsibility.

To Purchase or Enquire:

Contact oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com for questions or a PayPal invoice.