Book of Hours, Use of Amiens, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France (most probably Amiens or Cambrai), c.1480]

Estimate

12,000 - 18,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

94 leaves (plus flyleaves, one added in nineteenth century with title in gold, blue and red ornamental capitals), 184mm. by 130mm., text complete, but wanting two leaves, collation: i^{6, ii-v^{8, vi^{6 (ii and v missing, missing few lines of text added by later hand), vii-viii^{6, ix^{8, x^{6, xi-xiii^{8, single column, 19 lines in brown ink in a fine lettre bâtarde, scrolling penwork trails on fol.27r picking out fish in the bas-de-page, one- and 2-line initials in liquid gold on blue and red grounds, line fillers in same,}}}}}}}small miniature of Virgin on fol.81r, thirteen three-quarter page miniatures within gold frames (approximately 105mm. high), above 4-line initials in blue or red touched with scrolling white penwork, full borders of coloured and gold acanthus leaves and other fruit and foliage on shapes of bare vellum and dull-gold (fols.15r, 23r, 31r, 35r, 37v, 38r, 40r, 42r, 47r, 51r, 54r, 57r, 71r, some small flakes and that on fol.23r rubbed in one corner with serious damage to that part of miniature), one full page miniature in a rectangular frame (fol.30v) with border as previous, spaces left for rubrics and initials in last two gatherings, slight damage to head of first leaf where a medieval owner attached pilgrim badges, two leaves once weak and now supported with more modern vellum (fol.22 and last leaf), last leaf with marks from metal cornerpieces and central clasp-mount of original binding, some minor scuffs and thumbing, overall good condition, modern limp vellum

Catalogue Note

text

The volume comprises: a Calendar (fol.1r) with St. Vaast (Vedast) on 6 February with the Norman or Picard form of his name, and St. Fermin of Amiens on 25 September, with his translations elsewhere in September and in January; readings from Luke and John (fol.13r); the Hours of the Virgin, with Matins (fol.15r), Lauds (fol.23r), Prime (fol.31r), Terce (fol.35r), Sext (fol.38r), None (fol.40r), Vespers (fol.42r), Compline (fol.47r); the Hours of the Cross (fol.51r); Hours of the Holy Spirit (fol.54r); the Seven Penitential Psalms (fol.57r) with a litany; the Office of the Dead (fol.71r), followed by prayers in French.

illumination

The miniatures are finely accomplished examples of the prevailing style of Rouen illumination at the end of the fifteenth century, and show the influence of the artist Robert Boyvin (fl.1487-1536; see also lot 33). The openings of fols.30v-31r and 37v-38r are particularly visually pleasing, with facing miniatures which mirror and contrast each other, to focus the reader's contemplation on the life and death of Christ and his adulationat birth and after his death. The first presents the death of Christ, with the Virgin holding his corpse tenderly and looking into his closed eyes, opposite his birth in a stable, in which his gaze is again met by that of his mother. The second shows a tonsured priest adoring an altar and effigy of Christ, while the effigy twists its head to look straight at the viewer of the volume, opposite an image of the Adoration of the Magi, who look at the Child or each other, as the Child stares out of the page to meet the reader's gaze.

The miniatures include:

1. fol.15r, the Annunciation to the Virgin, she kneeling in prayer before a sumptuous cloth and an open window with a walled city in the distance, the angel gesturing to the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove.

2. fol. 23r, the Visitation within a wooded hilly setting.

3. fol.30v, the Pietà, at the base of the Cross. Mary Magdalene with her ointment standing to the right.

4. fol.31r, the Nativity.

5. fol.35r, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, who wear wide brimmed hats and gaiters.

6. fol.37v, a tonsured priest kneeling with two supporters before an altar and an effigy of Christ; the symbol of the Passion on the wall behind them.

7. fol.38r, the Adoration of the Magi.

8. fol.40r, the Presentation in the Temple.

9. fol.42r, the Flight into Egypt.

10. fol.47r, the Coronation of the Virgin by an angel, as she kneels before an enthroned God the Father who wears a bishop's mitre.

11. fol.51r, the Crucifixion.

12. fol.54r, Pentecost.

13. fol.57r, David in ermine-edged robes kneeling before a large medieval building.

14. fol.71r, Job in the dung heap, his arms crossed across his breast, as he is questioned by three men.