Book of Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France (Paris), c.1450]

Estimate

20,000 - 30,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

188 leaves, 180mm. by 135mm., complete, collation: i^{12, ii^{8, iii^{6, iv-xv^{8, xvi^{6, xvii-xxiii^{8, xxiv^{4, single column, 14 lines in black ink in a fine and ornate late gothic bookhand, rubrics in red, one-line initials in burnished gold on blue or pink grounds heightened with white penwork, larger 2- to 3-line initials in blue or pink on brightly burnished gold ground and enclosing scrolling sprays of coloured foliage (often several to a page), line-fillers to match, two three-quarter borders of single-line ivy leaf stems terminating in golden leaves and curled coloured acanthus leaf sprays (fols.18v and 23r),}}}}}}}thirteen three-quarter arch-topped miniatures (fols.27r, 51r, 63v, 70r, 75r, 78v, 84v, 92r, 95r, 118v, 122v, 183r, 190r; some with small scuffs and smudges, slight flaking in places), above 3-line coloured initials as above, and enclosed within text frame of ornate interweaving coloured acanthus-leaf sprays and a full border of similar coloured sprays and single-line ivy-leaf foliage terminating in gold leaves and coloured flowerbuds, some small stains and signs of wear, perhaps some minor retouching of details of a few miniatures, else in good condition, trimmed at edges, mid-sixteenth-century brown leather over pasteboards, tooled with crosses within chevrons and borders of repeating 'S fermé', gilt edges

Catalogue Note

text

The volume comprises: a Calendar (fol.1r); Gospel readings (fol.13r) and prayers to the Virgin; Hours of the Virgin, with Matins (fol.27r), Lauds (fol.51r), Prime (fol.63v), Terce (fol.70r), Sext (fol.75r), None (fol.78v), Vespers (fol.84v) and Compline (fol.92r); the Seven Penitential Psalms (fol.95r) with a Litany; Hours of the Cross (fol.118v); Hours of the Holy Spirit (fol.122v); followed by prayers in French (fol.183r).

illumination

The miniatures are by a late follower of the Bedford Master style, with the characteristic thin, oval-faced figures, tessellated backgrounds and densely packed border-frames in vividly coloured foliage on thick gold grounds, with sprays of acanthus-leaves at the corners.

The miniatures comprise:

1. fol.27r, the Annunciation to the Virgin.

2. fol.51r, the Visitation of the Virgin to St. Anne.

3. fol.63v, the Nativity , with the Christ Child being bathed and Joseph warming a towel.

4. fol.70r, the Annunciation to the Shepherds.

5. fol.75r, the Visitation of the Magi.

6. fol.78v, the Presentation in the Temple.

7. fol.84v, the Flight into Egypt.

8. fol.92r, the Coronation of the Virgin.

9. fol.95r, King David kneeling in prayer.

10. fol.118v, the Crucifixion.

11. fol.122v, Pentecost, with the Virgin reading surrounded by the apostles as the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.

12. fol.183r, the Virgin and Child enthroned surrounded by angels, one playing a harp, another adoring the child as he reaches to pick up fruit from a tray held by the third angel.

13. fol.190r, Judgement Day, with Christ seated on a rainbow as the dead rise from their graves.