Book of Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France (doubtless Paris), c.1420]

Estimate

15,000 - 20,000 GBP

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Description

Vellum

180 leaves (2 blank), 185mm. by 132mm., complete, collation: i^{12, ii^{6, iii^{8, iv^{9 (last a singleton), v^{6, vi^{7 (last probably a singleton), vii-x^{8, xi^{6, xii-xvi^{8, xvii^{7 (first probably a singleton), xviii-xix^{8, xx^{3 (last a singleton), xxi-xxiii^{8, xxiv^{4, single column, 15 lines in dark brown ink in a fine and angular late gothic bookhand, rubrics in red, numerous small initials in gold on blue or pink grounds heightened with white penwork, larger 2- to 3-line initials in similar blue or pink on gold grounds, extending into coloured text frames heightened in gold on one side of page and full borders of rinceaux terminating in gold ivy-leaves and small coloured flowers, similar decorated three-quarter borders on each text page,}}}}}}}}}}}}}}fourteen three-quarter page miniatures (all except one arch-topped, fols.19r, 44r, 55r, 61r, 65v, 70r, 74r, 81v, 87r, 106r, 113v, 119v, 165r, 170v, some small areas of damage to those on fols.44r and 65v perhaps due to ritual rubbing), above 4-line coloured initials enclosing sprigs of coloured ivy-leaves and 5 lines of text, with wide text borders on three sides of coloured ivy-leaves on gold grounds, some small stains and smudges, slight rodent damage to edges of last few leaves, stitch-marks from numerous pilgrim-badges once attached to fol.18, else in good and presentable condition, strong in somewhat battered sixteenth-century binding of dark leather over pasteboards with central gilt cabochons on front and back boards (cracking at spine, edges of thongs exposed and corners scuffed)

Provenance

provenance

1. From the library of the Seminaire de Langres, in north eastern France; dispersed from the collection there and sold on 9 October 1809 by Monsieur Lenfumé at nearby Vellefrie: late eighteenth- or early nineteenth-century inscriptions on last flyleaf and inside front board.

2. Acquired by the present owner from Berès, Cat. 66 (1974), no.6.

Catalogue Note

text

This volume comprises: a Calendar (fol.1r); Gospel Readings (fol.13r); the Hours of the Virgin, with Matins (fol.19r), Lauds (fol.44r), Prime (fol.55r), Terce (fol.61r), Sext (fol.65v), None (fol.69v), Vespers (fol.74r, mis-rubricated "Ad terciam"), and Compline (fol.80v); the Office of the Dead (fol.87r) with a Litany (fol.100r); the Hours of the Cross (fol.106r); followed by prayers in French, including those for the Virgin (fol.165r), God, Christ and the Trinity (fol.170v) and the O intemerata in Latin (fol.177r).

illumination

These richly coloured miniatures with their pale translucent faces and wealth of fine detail in drapery, offset by the glittering tessellated backgrounds with gold and coloured tiles, are by a skilled follower of the Boucicaut Master. He had been the leading master of manuscript illumination in Paris in the early 1400s, and appears to have supervised a large workshop of artists producing manuscripts for the court and other wealthy patrons. Of particular note here are the miniatures of the Annunciation to the Virgin, the Flight into Egypt and King David, with opulent fabrics and interiors painted in a rich palette.

The miniatures comprise:

1. fol.19r, 75mm. high, the Annunciation to the Virgin as she kneels reading in her richly decorated bower.

2. fol.44r, 80mm. high, the Visitation; St. Anne carrying a girdle book bound in white skin.

3. fol.55r, 80mm. high, the Nativity.

4. fol.61r, 80mm. high, the Annunciation to the Shepherds.

5. fol.65v, 78mm. high, the Visitation of the Magi.

6. fol.70r, large rectangular miniature, 65mm. by 55mm., the Presentation in the Temple.

7. fol.74r, 75mm. high, the Flight into Egypt.

8. fol.81v, 76mm. high, the Coronation of the Virgin.

9. fol.87r, 73mm. high, King David kneeling before his harp as God appears to him in the upper right-hand corner.

10. fol.106r, 80mm. high, the Crucifixion.

11. fol.113v, 75mm. high, Pentecost, with the Virgin seated reading with the apostles.

12. fol.119v, 73mm. high, a funeral.

13. fol.165r, 80mm. high, the Virgin and Child enthroned.

14. fol.170v, 78mm. high, Judgement Day, with Christ seated on a rainbow, his feet resting on a globe supported by two angels.