A crowned king seated in judgment (most probably Quintus Mucius Scaevola, the augur) over two prisoners, large miniature from an illuminated manuscript of Cicero, De Amicitia, in French translation, on vellum [Central France (perhaps Nantes or Tours), third quarter of the fifteenth century]

Estimate

6,000 - 8,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

upper portion of a leaf, 220mm. by 180mm., with a large arch-topped miniature enclosing a seated judge with a white beard, before a crowd of attendants in a rich gothic interior, in the foreground two prisoners are led in as a scribe writes, border on two sides of coloured acanthus leaves and foliage, enclosing two men in turbans, verso with 2 columns of 28 lines in lettre bâtarde corresponding to chs.16-18 of the text, once laid down on board but now loose, nineteenth-century pencil “480” and “469” on verso, small flakes and slight discolouration to edge of miniature, else excellent condition, carved gilt frame

Catalogue Note

From the same manuscript as the previous lot.