Christ in Majesty, extremely large illuminated miniature from a manuscript Antiphoner on vellum

a cutting, 351 mm. by 261 mm., with an extremely large initial 'A' ("Aspiciens a longe ...", first response for the first Sunday in Advent), 277 mm. by 244 mm.,  enclosing in the upper compartment a half-length figure of Christ blessing and holding a gold book in the folds of his robe under his left arm, in a mandorla supported by two hovering angels, in the lower compartment the twelve apostles standing on a rocky ground enclosed by a crenellated wall, all gazing and pointing upwards towards Christ, painted in colours and burnished gold within an very large initial in elaborate leafy design in colour with gold and silver terminating at the foot with scrolls enclosing a prophet with a scroll and a Franciscan saint with a book, all on elaborate geometrically tessellated ground within a very elaborate border, a line of music below the initial and the first line of text in large capitals alternately red and blue with penwork in the contrasting colour, verso with 6 lines of music on a 4-line red stave and of text in a large rounded gothic hand, one decorated initial, in elaborate gilt frame with foot carved with flowers and leaves probably reused from an older frame

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."

A vast and spectacular initial 'A', on the scale of a small panel painting.  The subject is the adoration of Christ in glory after the Ascension.  It is from the opening of the Temporal, beginning with the first Sunday in Advent, "Aspiciens a longe ...", 'Seeing from afar, behold the power of God coming ...'.  The inclusion of a friar at the lower right, probably Saint Francis himself, shows that the book was made for a Franciscan community.

The general style is Tuscan, in the early style of Pacino di Bonaguida, fl. c. 1302 – 1340, of Florence, but the manuscript is probably Sienese.  A cutting in similar style in BEL, Medieval Miniatures, 1996, pp. 18-19, no. 4, ascribed to the workshop of Pacino may also be from Siena.  The soft colours and heavy eyebrows are characteristically Sienese, as is the heavy broad surround, with panelled border: the band of silver with scrolling leaves has a precise parallel in Siena, Duomo, Corale 34 D, and the outer frame of repeated quatrefoils recurs in Corale 35 E, both made for Siena Cathedral, c. 1290-95 (cf. I gotico a Siena, Miniatura  pitture oreficerie oggetti d'arte, 1982, pp. 54-57, nos. 9-10).