Lot 100

The Pontifical of Pierre de Laval, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France, second half of the fifteenth century (probably soon after 1472)]

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

38 leaves (plus original endleaves), 175mm. by 135mm., complete, collation: i-iv^{8, vi^{6, single column, 13 lines in black ink in a fine and large lettre bâtarde with ornamental extensions to some ascenders, rubrics in red, one- and 2-line initials in liquid gold on blue or red-brown grounds, line fillers in same,}}arms of Pierre de Laval on fol.1r surmounted by a bishop's mitre, a helmet and a cross on large red compartment heightened with liquid gold scrolls (71mm. by 89mm.), outermost top edge slightly damaged with tiny losses to corner on first 8 leaves, silver in mitre and helmet now oxidised, slight discolouration to first leaf, else in excellent condition, red silk over pasteboards, red cloth slipcase

Provenance

provenance

1. Written and illuminated for Pierre de Laval (1442-93), bishop of Saint Brieuc from 1472, archbishop of Reims from 1473, and the younger brother of Jeanne de Laval, the second wife and great love of René d'Anjou (1409-80), the duke of Naples, king of Naples and titular king of Jerusalem. It is one of three extant books from his library.

2. Bergendal MS.110; bought by Joseph Pope from Les Enluminures in December 1995: Bergendal catalogue no.110; D.E. Booton, Manuscripts, Market and the Transition to Print, 2010, p.336

Catalogue Note

text

This small and luxurious volume contains a selection of the prayers normally found in a pontifical, and was clearly made for use by Pierre de Laval during certain services. The contents comprise: prayers for confirmation and tonsure (fol.1r); for the consecration of the paten and chalice (fol.12v); for the blessing of the corporal, vestments, altar linens and other objects to be used in services (fol.16v); and for the blessing of the corpses of men and women (fol.35v).