Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum

159 leaves, 114 mm. by 83 mm., a leaf cancelled (possibly with a miniature) before fol. 13, else complete, collation: i^{12, ii6 [of 6, i cancelled], iii-xx8, 16 lines, ruled in brown ink, written-space 81 mm. by 46 mm., written in dark brown ink in two sizes of a gothic liturgical hand, rubrics in red, capitals touched in yellow, line-fillers and one- and 2-line initials throughout in burnished gold on pink and blue grounds with white tracery}, eleven large illuminated initials with three-quarter illuminated borders, the initials 4 or 5 lines high (one 3-line) in leafy designs in colours with white heightening on burnished gold grounds supporting full-height ivyleaf borders extending into upper and lower margins, sometimes with dragons, four large miniatures approximately half-page with further large illuminated initials and borders, some additions in the Hours of the Cross (probably seventeenth-century), margins cut with loss of extremities of illuminated borders throughout, first miniature a bit rubbed, other minor wear, bound in nineteenth-century black leather with gilt monogram (perhaps 'MR'), gilt edges, vellum endleaves

provenance

Bought from Hodges & Figgis, Dublin, 1968, by a private collector, and by descent to the present owner.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate
"This lot is offered for sale subject to Sotheby's Conditions of Business, which are available on request and printed in Sotheby's sale catalogues. The independent reports contained in this document are provided for prospective bidders' information only and without warranty by Sotheby's or the Seller."

text

A Calendar (fol. 1r), including in red SS. Geneviève (3 January), Louis (25 August) and Denis (10 October), all consistent with Paris; the Gospel Sequences (fol. 13r); the Hours of the Virgin [Use of Rome], with Matins (fol. 18r), Lauds (fol. 29r), Prime (fol. 40r), Terce (fol. 44r), Sext (fol. 48r), None (fol. 51v), Vespers (fol. 55r) and Compline (fol. 62r), with the Advent offices (fol. 66r) and other variants; the Hours of the Cross (fol. 80v) and of the Holy Ghost (fol. 83v); the Penitential Psalms (fol. 88r) and Litany; the Office of the Dead (fol. 109r); and the Obsecro te (fol. 152r) and O intemerata, all ending on fol. 159v.

illumination

This is a little Parisian Book of Hours of the period of many of the finest manuscripts made for Charles VI and the Duc de Berry, with delicate formal ivyleaf borders, and solemn and peaceful miniatures.  The style resembles that of the Humility Master (cf. M. Meiss, French Painting in the Time of Jean de Berry, The Late Fourteenth Century, 1967, esp. figs. 26-72).   The miniatures here are:

1, Folio 18r, the Annunciation, the Virgin standing on the right, Gabriel kneeling before her with a scroll, a vase of lilies on the ground, 51 mm. by 45 mm., full border.

2, Folio 80r, the Crucifixion, the Virgin and Saint John standing at the sides, 35 mm. by 46 mm.

3, Folio 88r, Christ blessing, seated on a bench and holding an orb on his lap, altars on either side with the communion cup of the New Testament and the Law tablets of the Old, 52 mm. by 49 mm., full border.

4, Folio 109r, a funeral service, three black-hooded mourners beside a bier, two priests singing from a book, 40 mm. by 44 mm., full border.