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

205 leaves (last two blank), plus 7 flyleaves, 139mm. by 95mm., lacking a leaf after fol. 82 and another after 86, else complete, collation: i^{12, ii-ix8, x7 (of 8, lacking vii), xi7 (of 8, lacking iv), xii-xiii9, xv-xxiv8, xxv4, xxvi6, ruled for 15 lines, written space 78mm. by 46mm., a number of hands in dark brown ink in two sizes of a gothic liturgical hand, rubrics in pale red, the name of the Virgin throughout in burnished gold, numerous 3-line initials in liquid gold on panels of blue and red,} panel borders throughout of coloured acanthus leaves with numerous birds and insects, two large historiated initials with three-quarter borders (6-line initial enclosing the Pietà on fol. 21r & 4-line with the Virgin and Child on 25v), twelve large miniatures in arched compartments with full borders, above large initials and 5 lines of text, with occasional birds and animals in borders, some slight smudging (see below), prayers added at end, offsets from pilgrim badges on on fol. 30v, sixteenth-century French calf over thin wooden boards, gilt-tooled, remains of clasps, binding worn with cracked joints, in fitted dark red cloth slipcase and box

provenance

1. Evidently produced in Paris or the vicinity for a local patron: SS. Geneviève and Denis in gold in the calendar. The Obsecro te originally written in male form on fol. 23v, and converted to the female famulo tua by a contemporary hand for the female patron who is shown kneeling before the Virgin on fol. 190r.

2. Early Modern ownership inscriptions of 'Francoys (surname erased)' in 1583, with his notes at front and back, and Marie Desplain in a seventeenth-century hand.

3. Sir Thomas Phillipps (1792-1872), his MS. 6980 ('6980 Ph' in pencil in his hand inside front board and remains of his label on spine), bought c. 1831-2, and remaining in his collection until the residue was bought by H. P. Kraus in 1977.

4. Collection of Neil F. Phillips (his MS. 632), bought from Kraus.

5. Sold in our rooms, 2 December 1997, lot 71.

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."

text

The volume contains a Calendar (fol.1r); Gospel Sequences (13r); Verses of St. Bernard (19v); Obsecro te & O intemerata (21r); the Hours of the Virgin, with Matins (31r), Lauds (57v), Prime (70v), Terce (78r), Sext (83r), None (87r), Vespers (91r) and Compline (99r); the Hours of the Cross (106r); and of the Holy Ghost (110r); suffrages of the saints (133v); the Penitential Psalms and Litany (116r); Office of the Dead (136r); the Quinze Joyes and Cinq Plaies, in French (190r & 197r); suffrages to SS. Christopher and Sebastian (210r).

illumination

The artist is a follower of Maître François, the foremost illuminator of Paris in the third quarter of the fifteenth century. The details of the miniatures and the birds and animals in the borders are sharp, and the palette is bold and vivid. The miniatures include: 1. folio 31r, the Annunciation, with God in a window sending the Holy Dove down to the Virgin within a gothic room, the border with 4 birds; 2. folio 57v, the Visitation in a wide landscape with a castle and town in the background, the border with a squirrel, a cockerel and a monkey grinding a mortar and pestle; 3. folio 70v, the Nativity, border with a leaping deer and 2 birds; 4. folio 78r, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, the border with a drollery-creature, a bird and a butterfly; 5. folio 91r, the Flight into Egypt, with Joseph reaching back to hand a flask to the Virgin, border with a drollery-creature and a peacock; 6. folio 99r, Coronation of the Virgin, border with a drollery-creature and a bird; 7. folio 106r, the Crucifixion between a host of saints and soldiers flying the imperial banner of the double-headed eagle; 8. folio 110r, Pentecost, with one apostle falling to the floor and covering his face with his cloak; 9. folio 116r, David in prayer with figures in the vaulting showing soldiers fighting, the border with a cockerel, a goose and another bird; 10. folio 136r, a Burial Service in a churchyard with a priest reading, gravediggers shoveling and crowds of mourners; 11. folio 190r, Virgin and Child in a tent attended by an angel, the original owner of the volume kneeling before them, border with 2 birds; 12. folio 197r, the Trinity enthroned between seraphim, border with 2 birds.