Horae BMV, Use of Paris, in Latin and French.

Northern France (Paris), ca. 1450-1460

Illuminated manuscript on vellum, 164 folios (modern foliation in pencil 2-165 used here, plus 2 flyleaves at front and two at back), 7 1/8 x 5 in.; 181 x 127 mm, 15 lines, written in dark brown ink in a fine and angular Gothic bookhand, one-line initials in burnished gold on pink or blue grounds heightened with white tracery, line-fillers to match, two- to five-line initials in pink or blue with white tracery on gold grounds often enclosing colored foliage, each recto page of the Calendar and some text pages with a single panel border in outer margin of acanthus leaves with gold undersides, roses and strawberries edged in gold, similar three-quarter borders at sections not marked by miniatures, 7 large miniatures (leaves 29, 80, 97v, 101v, 105, 149, 155) above 3-line colored initials (as described above) and within full borders (as described above); occasional minor rubbing to areas of miniatures, else in excellent condition. 18th-century maroon morocco, triple-fillet border and central panel with gold-stamped fleurons at four corners, circular crown of thorns enclosing the divine monograms "I H S" in center of upper cover and enclosing "M A" on the lower cover, these two divine monograms repeated on spine, dentelles, edges gilt; worming in upper compartment of spine, slight wear to extremities with two corners mended.

occasional minor rubbing to areas of miniatures, else in excellent condition. 18th-century maroon morocco, triple-fillet border and central panel with gold-stamped fleurons at four corners, circular crown of thorns enclosing "I H S" in center of upper cover and enclosing "M A" on the lower cover, these two monograms repeated on spine, dentelles, edges gilt; worming in upper compartment of spine, slight wear to extremities with two corners mended.
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.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Illumination

This is a splendid example of the output of the workshops of Paris c. 1450-60. The miniatures are by a follower of the Coëtivy Master (fl. 1450-85), and share his warm and rich palette, and love of gold-embroidered fabrics. The figure of the Virgin with a rounded oval face, seated before just such a cloth, in the miniature of the Pentecost here (f. 101v) is closely related to the Virgin seated with the Holy Child in another Book of Hours (now Paris, BnF., lat. 1400, see Avril and Reynaud, Les Manuscrits à Peintures en France, 1440-1520, no. 22, pp. 59-60, illustrated on p. 60).

The miniatures are: Annunciation (f. 29), King David (f. 80), Crucifixion (f. 97v), Pentecost (f. 101v), a Funeral Mass (f. 105), Virgin and Child (f. 149), the Holy Trinity (f. 155).

Text

This volume comprises: Computus (f. 1); Calendar (f. 4); Gospel Sequences (f. 16); Obsecro te (f. 21); O intemerata (f. 24); Hours of the Virgin with Matins (f. 29); Lauds (f. 39v); Prime (f. 50); Terce (f. 55v); Sext (f. 60); None (f. 63); Vespers (f. 67v) and Compline (f. 74); Penitential Psalms (f. 80); Litany of the Saints (f. 92v); Hours of the Cross (f. 97v) and of the Holy Ghost (f. 101v); Prayer to the Virgin in French (f. 149); Seven Requests of Our Lord, in French (f. 156), with other prayers in French.