The Pietà by the Master of Adélaïde of Savoy (the Master of Poitiers 30), on a cutting from an illuminated manuscript on vellum

a cutting, 58mm. by 43mm., with a gently arched miniature showing the Pietà with the Virgin seated on a gold-embroidered cushion at the foot of Golgotha with the dead Christ across her lap, two angels with brightly coloured wings on the left in prayer, very fine landscape background of Jerusalem as a medieval city with a turret, over which dark clouds are looming, framed with narrow liquid gold border, and part of illuminated borders  just visible in top corners (with tiny and precise leaves, gold bezants and a trailing piece of drapery), on verso: remnants of 6 lines of dark brown ink in a fine lettre batârde below border decoration of leaves, small red flowers and gold bezants, slight wear, once laid down on card, now hinged on piece of vellum, in card mount

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This tiny and exquisite miniature is of superb quality, in the elegance of its composition as well as its colour and technique. It is by an artist known as either the Master of Adélaïde of Savoy, after a Book of Hours once owned by Adélaïde, who died in 1712, or more correctly as the Master of Poitiers 30, from his work in a Missal of the Use of Poitiers (Plummer, Last Flowering, 1982, p. 45, n. 55 & König, Französische Buchmalerei, 1982, p. 256 etc.). The artist probably worked in Nantes and then subsequently in Poitiers, although he may later have moved to Paris. He is one of the artists associated with the jeunesse de Fouquet, the group of artists around the Master of Jouvenal des Ursins from whose school the great Jean Fouquet emerged.

A number of Books of Hours by the master are known, and foremost in this context is that sold in our rooms, 13 July 1977, lot 72 (with a plate of the Pietà miniature with the same composition as here). It seems possible that the present miniature is from a series of nine cuttings bound up in an album once in the Virtue and Cahill Library (sale at Christie's 5 July 1967, lot 166), later in the Everett and Ann McNear Collection in Chicago (French and Flemish Illuminated MSS. from Chicago Collections, 1969, no. 18 & Last Flowering, no. 55), recently purchased by the Morgan Library in New York. The curve of the arch is different to that of the published miniatures of the McNear series, but the measurements, style, artist and border fragments correspond exactly.

From the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.