[Book of Hours] | Use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum

From the Library of Clayre and Jay Michael Haft

Book of Hours

Use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum, [Southern Netherlands (Ghent?), c. 1470]

i+118 leaves (last three blank), c.190x130mm, plus a small leaf loosely inserted, apparently complete though with some irregularities, written with 20 lines, the ruled space c.120×75mm, illuminated with EIGHTEEN LARGE AND NINETEEN SMALL MINIATURES; accompanied by full or three-quarter borders respectively; sewn on five bands and bound in wood boards covered with polished black leather, each cover with a pair of panel stamps depicting The Annunciation and St Barbara with the tower, gilt edges, panel impressions not very distinct, one scene barely visible

Text:

(fols. 1r–6v Calendar, very sparse, major feasts (in red) include Bavo and Livinus

(fols. 7r–11v) The Hours of the Cross

(fols. 12r–15v) The Hours of the Spirit

(fols. 16r–19v) The Mass of the Virgin

(fols. 20r–23r) Extracts from the Gospels

(fols. 23v–27v) Prayers ‘Obsecro te’ and ‘O intemerata’

(fols. 28r–33v) Suffrages of saints (see the list of miniatures)

(fols. 34r–73v) The Hours of the Virgin, Use of Rome

(fols. 74r–78v) The Advent Hours

(fols. 79r–90v) The Seven Penitential Psalms, litany, and collects

(fols. 91r–118v) The Office of the Dead

Illumination:

The subjects of the miniatures are:

(fol. 7r) Crucifixion

(fol. 12r) Pentecost

(fol. 16r) The Virgin and Child Enthroned, approached by an angel holding a fleur-de-lys

(fol. 20r) St John

(fol. 20v) St Luke

(fol. 21v) St Matthew

(fol. 22v) St Mark

(fol. 23v) Pieta

(fol. 26r) The Virgin and Child of the Apocalypse

(fol. 28r) St Michael

(fol. 28v) St John the Baptist

(fol. 29r) St Peter

(fol. 29v) St Andrew

(fol. 30r) St Laurence

(fol. 30v) St Adrian

(fol. 31r) St Nicholas

(fol. 31v) St Mary Magdalene

(fol. 32r) St Catherine

(fol. 32v) St Barbara

(fol. 33r) St Margaret

(fol. 33v) St Apollonia

(fol. 34r) The Annunciation

(fol. 46r) The Visitation

(fol. 53r) The Nativity

(fol. 56r) The Adoration of the Shepherds

(fol. 59r) The Presentation in the Temple

(fol. 62r) The Adoration of the Magi

(fol. 65r) The Massacre of the Innocents

(fol. 70r) The Flight into Egypt

(fol. 74r) The Virgin and Child, being censed by a kneeling priest(?)

(fol. 79r) King David in Penitence

(fol. 91r) A Funeral Service, with two monks and four mourners around a bier

PROVENANCE

1. The unusual acanthus decoration, blue on one side and brown-gold on the other side of each leaf, is found in a Book of Hours illuminated by Simon Marmion (Huntington Library, HM 1173) and produced probably in the Picard area of northern France.

2. The front flyleaves with three 16th(?) and 17th-century inscriptions: 'A monsieur de Zweueghem' (Zwevegem near Kortrijk): apparently a member of the Griboval family, related to the Harchies, comtes de Hallennes; 'Janine(?) Arabicq 1619', and 'Conte de Hallenne, 1669'. Hallennes-lez-Haubourdin is just outside Lille.

We are grateful to Dominique Vanwijnberghe for assistance with this description.