The destruction of Job's household, a large initial "S" on vellum cut from an antiphonal. France,

EVOCATIVE FRENCH ILLUMINATION

Large historiated initial 'S' in blue with white tracery on burnished gold ground, depicting Job, standing outside the house while inside his children and animals are struck down by a storm, sent as a test of his faith.

Size: 100 x 103mm. Verso with music on a four-line stave.

A fine miniature which shows Job's household being struck down, his possessions - including livestock - destroyed, and his children killed. Sent by God as a test of his devotion, Job accepts his plight without complaint or accusation; accordingly, here, Job himself stands away from the storm, unscathed and looking on, his hands clasped in prayer; the other figure is likely Elihu, who attempted to speak on God's behalf before God himself appeared to Job in the form of a whirlwind.

Here Job shows no anger and pronounces that what the "Lord has given, the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord". The initial "S" introduces the antiphon:

Si bona suscepimus de manu domine, mala autem quare non sustineamus? Dominus dedit dominus abstulit sicut domino placuit ita factum est. Sit nomen domini benedictum. V. Nudus egressus sum de utero matris meae, nudus revertar illuc. R. Dominus dedit dominus abstulit sicut domino placuit ita factum est. Sit nomen domini benedictum.

Translation: "If we have received good things at the hand of God, why should we not endure evil. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away: as it has pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord. V. Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither. R. The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away: as it has pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord.".

Stock Code: 246308