Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin [Italy (Naples), c.1490]

160x110mm, vellum, i(detached)+ii(19th c.)+162 leaves, complete in 17 quires of 10 leaves except i12, ix8-1 (last cancelled), xii2, xvii10+1 (last inserted), 15 lines, 80x57mm, 4 large miniatures with full borders inhabited by putti, peacocks and other birds, animals, etc., 7 large illuminated foliate initials with partial borders, the text of the Hours of the Cross lightly crossed-out in the 18th century (see Provenance), not affecting legibility, generally in very fine condition throughout, bound in contemporary red calf with panels of gilt interlace, gilt edges, niello clasp and catch depicting the Virgin and Child, St Sebastian, and St Roche with the angel, the joints and corners skilfully repaired, otherwise in very fine original condition, modern fitted morocco box

A fine Book of Hours illuminated by Matteo Felice, in a splendid binding from the time of Ferdinand I of Aragon, King of Naples

provenance

(1) Produced in Naples: the calendar includes in red Januarius (19 September) and Agnellus (14 December), and in plain ink Severus (20 April), Fortunata (13 October), and Gaudiosus (27 October); perhaps not made for a specific patron, as the space for arms in the first border is blank.

(2) Inscription dated 1579 on the last page.

(3) In Spain when the Hours of the Cross was "expurgado", in accordance with an edict of 8 August 1750, as recorded by the censor (ff.i verso, 120r).

(4) Panteleon Leonidas Argenti (1853-1911), of London, his 19th-century pictorial and armorial bookplate which described him as "Chiensis" (of Chios). 

binding

This splendid binding is close to that of another manuscript made for King Ferdinand I in Vienna (see Gottlieb, Bucheinbände, 1910, pl.16). Late 15th-century bindings made for the Aragonese Kings of Naples often look Spanish (see a Catalan binding from c.1470, C.L. Penney, Album of Selected Bookbindings, 1967, pl.3). Not surprisingly, the niello clasps are very similar to those of the deluxe Book of Hours made for Dona Violante (see lot 80). 

text and illumination

Inserted description in English (f.ii); Calendar (f.1r); Hours of the Virgin "secundum consuetudine romane", with Matins (f.13r), Lauds (f.22v), Prime (f.33r), Terce (f.37v), Sext (f.41v), None (f.45v), Vespers (f.49r), Compline (f.56r), with variants for liturgical seasons (f.68r); Mass of the Virgin (f.76v); prayers to the Virgin (f.80r); Seven Penitential Psalms (f.90r), litany (f.101v); Hours of the Cross (f.112r); Office of the Dead (f.122r).

Matteo Felice (fl.1467-93) is a well-known illuminator who produced many manuscripts for Ferdinand I of Aragon, King of Naples (1458-94). The artist is first mentioned in an account book kept by the Florentine humanist Agnolo Manetti during his stay in Naples, notably for the illumination of a manuscript containing the works of Boethius and the humanist Pier Paolo Vergerio, for which he received payment in 1467 (Vatican Library, MS Pal. Lat. 1740; identified by L. Banti, ‘Agnolo Manetti e alcuni scribi a Napoli’, Annali della R. Scuola, ser.2, VIII, 1939, pp.382, 384). Entries in the account books for the Aragonese treasury for the years 1491 to 1493 refer to nine manuscripts illuminated by Matteo, four of which have been identified (T. De Marinis, La Biblioteca Napolitana dei Re d'Aragona, 1947, I, p.158). Matteo received commissions from the most important members of the Neapolitan court, who enjoyed his colourful miniatures, characterized by boldly outlined, childlike figures.

The subjects of the miniatures are: (1) f.13, The Annunciation, the full border with children, a dragon, a peacock, and putti, two of them holding an empty circular wreath; (2) f.90r, King David in Penitence in the wilderness, the full border with putti, a peacock, and green parrots; (3) f.112r, Man of Sorrows, the full border with a lion, a stag, birds, and putti, one holding a scroll inscribed "Adoramus te Christe", (4) f.122, Funeral Service around a bier, the full border with a stag, a peacock, and putti, one holding a rabbit.