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

232 leaves (6 blank), 110mm. by 85mm., lacking single leaves after fols. viii and 116 and 2 leaves after fol. 106, other leaves possibly lacking towards end (now very misbound), leaves cancelled after fols. 11 and 120, gatherings mostly of 8 leaves (i-ii^{6, iv and xii4, xviii and xxiii6, xxiv4), modern foliation (followed here) excludes Calendar, 13 lines, gothic script, illuminated initials and panel borders throughout,} sixteen large miniatures mostly in arch-topped compartments and all but three within very elaborate borders including animals, birds, flowers, drolleries, angels, musicians, etc., some wear, some upper extremities of illumination slightly cropped, first miniature a bit oxidised, other spots of rubbing and thumbing, generally sound, old dark red velvet, pierced silver cornerpieces, endleaves re-used from pieces of a late thirteenth-century Latin dictionary, gilt edges, fitted case

provenance

Sidney Young (1843-1914), F.S.A., bought in 1910 for 50 guineas (catalogue cutting enclosed); and by descent to the present owner.

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 

A Calendar; the Gospel Sequences (fol. 1r); the Hours of the Virgin [Use of Rouen] (fol. 1r), incorporating suffrages into Lauds (an occasional Rouen practice which was characteristic of Sarum Use, here including SS. Romanus and Mello, of Rouen); the Hours of the Cross (fol. 107r) and of the Holy Ghost; prayers to the Virgin (fol. 117r); the Penitential Psalms (fol. 121r) and Litany (including SS. Mello, Romanus. Ouen, etc., of Rouen); and the Office of the Dead (fol. 155r). 

illumination

Illuminated by the Talbot Master, one of the two principal manuscript artists in Rouen during its occupation by the English at the end of the Hundred Years' War.  Both he and his colleague the Fastolf Master had probably trained in Paris, perhaps in the workshop of the Bedford Master, many of whose compositions were adapted into startlingly crisp and brightly coloured miniatures with starry skies, landscapes with windmills, and wild-growing grassy outcrops ringed with little cliffs.  Faces are large and expressive. There is a riotous profusion of border ornamentation with animals, drolleries and humans nestled into sprays of acanthus-leaves shooting off in pairs at 45 degrees from a central stalk.  Both the Fastolf and Talbot Masters worked for the English occupying armies.  The Talbot Master takes his name from two manuscripts commissioned by John Talbot, 1st earl of Shrewsbury, commander of the English forces, one of which he gave to Margaret of Anjou as she passed through Rouen in 1445 on her way to marry Henry VI of England (B.L., Royal MS 15.E.VI).  The present manuscript, although of Rouen Use, includes suffrages between Prime and Lauds, which became a feature of Sarum Use, and it ends with an added prayer to Saint Thomas Becket, which may suggest English patronage.

The miniatures include:

(1) folio 1r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, within a lavish three-quarter border of interlocking heart-shapes on a gold ground, enclosing John the evangelist standing before a richly embroidered cloth, placing a snake in a chalice, full border of acanthus-leaves and rinceaux with flowers and gold leaves, enclosing a large brown rabbit and a centaur waving a club, slightly faded and with discolouration of John's face (presumably through oxidisation)

(2) folio 12r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the annunciation to the Virgin as kneels and reads within a gothic interior, above a 3-line initial enclosing an angel in prayer, profuse border decoration of acanthus-leaf sprays containing a centaur with a bow firing an arrow through the throat of a green parrot-like bird, a squirrel and two angels who sit and read a book together, slight thumbing to upper right corner, else excellent condition

(3) folio 27r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the visitation of the Virgin to St. Anne, both figures in rich fabrics, and in a grassy landscape before a medieval walled city, full border enclosing a monkey, tiny chip to edge of St. Anne's nose, else excellent condition

(4) folio 43v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing St. John the Baptist holding the Agnus Dei, with simple border decoration of line-drawn foliate sprays terminating in gold fruit and leaves, trimmed at the top and slight flaking from saint's legs, else excellent condition

(5) folio 51v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing St. Vincent holding a book, border as previous, some flaking of gold from halo, else excellent condition

(6) folio 55v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing St. Vivian dressed as a bishop, border of acanthus-leaves and rinceaux, excellent condition

(7) folio 64r, square miniature, 38mm. wide, enclosing St. Catherine with her wheel, sword and palm of martyrdom, reading an open book, simple border as in item 4 above

(8) folio 72r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the Nativity, lavish border of acanthus-leaves and bezants enclosing four red angels, some flaking to gold of Mary and Joseph's haloes, slight smudge to Christ's halo, else excellent condition

(9) folio 79v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the Annunciation to the Shepherds, with two shepherds looking at the sky as an angel with a banderole descends, full border of acanthus-leaves and flowers, slight discolouration to face of angel, else excellent

(10) folio 84r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the Visitation of the Magi, with full border as previous, excellent condition

(11) folio 88r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the presentation in the temple, full border as previous enclosing a bearded drollery-creature with a blue hood and an angel playing a lute, slight rubbing to gold of haloes, small chips to Mary, Joseph and one of attendants in miniature, else excellent condition

(12) folio 92v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the Flight into Egypt, full border as previous enclosing a human bust, excellent condition

(13) folio 101r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing the Coronation of the Virgin, full border as above, slight smudge to text below miniature, else excellent condition

(14) folio 110v, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing Pentecost, full border as above enclosing green parrot and praying angel within a roundel of intertwined vine shoots, slight flaking from Virgin's and some saints' faces, else excellent condition

(15) folio 121r, three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing King David kneeling in prayer, above a 3-line initial with a portrait of a young blond woman (perhaps the original owner), full border as previous enclosing blue drollery creature with a long tail, and a human bust, some discolouration to face of God and slight fading overall, else excellent condition

(16) folio 155r three-quarter miniature, 55mm. high, enclosing a funeral scene within a church, full border as previous enclosing a green parrot, a squirrel within a frame of intertwined ivy-shoots, a centaur with a bow and arrow and a hunched shaggy drollery creature in dull gold, excellent condition