- 52
Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum
Estimate
3,000 - 5,000 GBP
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Description
182 leaves (plus 2 modern inserted blanks), 112mm. by 80mm., complete, modern erratic pencil foliation, collation: i12, ii-v10, vi6, vii-ix10, x8, xi-xv10, xvi8, written space 70mm. by 47mm., ruled for 14 lines, written in dark brown ink in a rounded gothic hand, rubrics in red, some capitals touched in yellow, small initials throughout in blue and gold with penwork to contrast, numerous 2-line initials in similar with penwork tracery extending into upper and lower margins, one 3-line initial in divided blue, seven large illuminated initials, 4-lines high with elaborate penwork, three large historiated initials with full borders, in coloured leafy designs on burnished gold grounds, the borders of interlacing acanthus sprays enclosing birds and putti and infilled with gold and bezants, upper edges quite cropped and outer edges slightly trimmed, overall good condition, late nineteenth-century green morocco gilt by Vickers & Son, London, gilt metal clasp stamped 'Oxford', green slipcase
Condition
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."
"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."
Catalogue Note
text
The text includes a Calendar (fol.1r); Hours of the Virgin, with Matins (13r), Lauds (25r), Prime (40v), Terce (46r), Sext (51v), None (57r), Vespers (62r), Compline (72r) and the seasonal variants (77v); Office of the Dead (97r); Penitential Psalms and Litany (155r).
illumination
The miniatures are attractive compositions by the Florentine artist Bartolomeo di Antonio Varnucci (1410-79), a follower of Zanobi Strozzi (see A. Garzelli, Miniatura Fiorentina del Rinascimento, I, 1985, 29-31), and have his distinctive round faces with fierce-looking sideways eyes (ibid. pls.73-81, and compare the Virgin's costume with pl.74). The miniatures include: 1. folio 13r, Virgin and Child surrounded by angels, border with 3 putti, 3 birds and a wreath meant to enclose a coat-of-arms (but never filled in); 2. folio 97r, a half-length skeleton, border with 2 birds; 3. folio 155r, King David with his harp, border with 3 birds.