Lot 39

Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [southern Netherlands (perhaps Bruges), c.1475-85]

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

173 leaves (4 blank), 129mm. by 92mm., text complete, gatherings mostly of 8 leaves (but xxii^{4),with miniatures on inserted leaves, single column, 16 lines of dark brown ink in a professional late gothic hand, rubrics in red, small initials in alternate blue with red penwork and gold with brown penwork, 2-line initials in burnished gold with alternate red and blue grounds,}sixteen three-quarter page illuminated borders of coloured acanthus leaves and flowers and fruit, three full-page miniatures in arched compartments framed with full borders of flowers and acanthus leaves, dampstaining in outer margins of leaves at end (becoming more pronounced on last few pages), overall in very good condition with wide margins, contemporary signed Bruges binding by Thomas van Gavere of bevelled wooden boards and tanned calf blind-stamped on each cover with two impressions of a panel separated by rosettes and fleurs-de-lys, the panels formed of double compartments of oakleaf scrolls enclosing deer, rabbits and birds, and inscription 'ob laudem xpristi librum hunc recte ligavi thomas de gavre', edges gilt and gauffered, wear to joints skilfully repaired, in brown cloth-fitted case

Provenance

provenance

The binding is signed by Thomas van Gavere, a member of an important and prestigious family of Bruges book binders, who is recorded as active there between 1481 and 1501 (Weale, Bookbindings, 1894, pp.162-5). The earliest documented binder in Bruges was James van Gavere (fl. 1454-65), and other important members of this family include Michael van Gavere (fl. 1473-90) and Antonius van Gavere (fl. 1459-1505), who is named in documents from the archive of Lille as the binder of the manuscript-library of Philip IV, the Fair, duke of Burgundy.

Catalogue Note

text

The manuscript comprises: a Calendar (fol.2r); the Hours of the Cross (14r) and of the Holy Ghost (21r); the Mass of the Virgin (26r); the Hours of the Virgin, Use of Rome, with Matins (33r), Lauds (50r), Prime (60r), Terce (64r), Sext (68r), None (72r), Vespers (76r) and Compline (83r), followed by the Advent Office (88r); the Penitential Psalms (96r) and Litany; the Office of the Dead (113r); the prayer of St.Gregory (145r); the Psalter of St.Jerome (146r); the Verses of St.Bernard (159v); the Obsecro te (161r) and O intemerata; and the Litany of the Virgin (176v).

illumination

This is an excellent example of Flemish art from the late fifteenth century, in its original luxury binding. The artist was an accomplished and skilled follower of Willelm Vrelant, with a talent for painting expressive faces and detailed interior scenes which also seem to draw on the work of Lieven van Lathem.

The subjects of the miniatures are:

1. folio 20v. Pentecost, with the Apostles gathered around the Virgin within an excellent and detailed gothic interior, as she leads them in prayer while the Holy Dove descends in a shower of light from a high window; border with scrolling acanthus leaves and strawberries. Some very minor smudging to border.

2. folio 32v. The Annunciation, in a gold vaulted gothic church, the Virgin dressed in a richly embroidered blue robe kneeling at a prie-dieu and turning her attention from her prayerbook to see Gabriel who has appeared on the right in a pink cloak with his arm raised to deliver his message; border with acanthus leaves and flowers.

3. folio 144v. The Pietà, set in a fine landscape with a delicately drawn medieval town and a distant view of Calvary where the two thieves still hang on their crosses; Christ supported by St. John, as the Virgin and Joseph of Arimathea lament and Mary Magdalene offers a pot of oil; border with acanthus leaves and golden acorns.