Book of Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [northern France (Paris), c.1440]

Estimate

30,000 - 50,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

160 leaves (plus 4 vellum endleaves at front and 1 at back), 205mm. by 144mm., complete, collation: i-ii⁶, iii⁸, iv⁴, v-xi⁸, xii⁴, xiii-xx⁸, xxi⁴, xxii⁸, 16 lines in a gothic bookhand (written space: 108mm. by 62mm.), catchwords, capital letters highlighted in yellow, rubrics in red, one- to 2-line initials and line-fillers in gold on red and blue grounds with white penwork, 4-line initials in blue with white penwork on gold grounds decorated with ivy leaves, stylised flowers or geometric patterns in red and blue, fifteen three-quarter page miniatures with full borders of gold ivy leaves and coloured acanthus, flowers and fruit, the frontispiece to the Hours of the Virgin also with 4 historiated roundels in the border (fols.13r, 25r, 46r, 56r, 61v, 65v, 69v, 73v, 79v, 85r, 99v, 105r, 110v, 153r, 158r), all pages with decorated panels (the beginning of the prayers to the Virgin on fols.19r and 22r with three-quarter borders), 8-line inscription of “Moriau presbytère, curé de St Priée” dated 1665 on front endleaf, recording that he got the book from his father, borders occasionally slightly rubbed, parchment very slightly discoloured throughout, else in excellent condition, seventeenth-century light green velvet over solid wooden boards with bevelled edges, somewhat worn, with an ornate silver clasp with figures of women

Catalogue Note

text

The book comprises: a Calendar (fol.1r); the Gospel Sequences (fol.13r); the Obsecro te (fol.19r); the O intemerata (fol.22r); the Hours of the Virgin with Matins (fol.25r), Lauds (fol.46r), Prime (fol.56r), Terce (fol.61v), Sext (fol.65v), None (fol.69v), Vespers (fol.73v), Compline (fol.79v); the Penitential Psalms (fol.85r) with a Litany; the Hours of the Cross (fol.99v); the Hours of the Holy Spirit (fol.105r); the Office of the Dead (fol.110v); the Doulce Dame (fol.153r); the Sept Requestes (fol. 158r).

illumination

This is a fine Book of Hours illuminated by an artist closely related to the Dunois Master. His style originates in that of the Bedford Master, probably the Alsatian artist Haincelin of Hagenau, recorded in Paris from 1403 to 1424. The mention of a Jean Haincelin between 1438 and 1449 probably refers to his son, who may have been the Dunois Master himself. This artist, also known as the ‘chief associate’ of the Bedford Master, took over the leading role in the Bedford workshop around 1435/40 and continued to work in a similar style for about three decades. A clear distinction between the Bedford Master and his workshop is often difficult to make because of the homogenous style and use of common models. Characteristic for the work of the Dunois Master is his light palette and the very delicate modelling with small brushstrokes and little dots. Many miniatures in this Book of Hours convey the same sense for soft flesh tones, light and flowing hair and heavy draperies. However, some miniatures, such as the Annunciation to the Virgin, show figures with small heads which differ from the figural repertoire of the Dunois Master, and suggest a different hand.

The miniatures comprise: (1) fol.13r, St. John on Patmos; (2) fol.25r, the Annunciation, with four historiated roundels relating to the parents of the Virgin with the Expulsion of Joachim of the Temple, the Annunciation of the birth of the Virgin to Joachim, the Meeting at the Golden Gate and the Birth of the Virgin; (3) fol.46r, the Visitation of the Virgin and St. Elizabeth; (4) fol.56v, the Nativity; (5) fol.61v, the Annunciation to the Shepherds; (6) fol.65v, the Adoration of the Three Magi; (7) fol.69v, the Presentation in the Temple; (8) fol.73v, the Flight into Egypt; (9) fol.79v, the Coronation of the Virgin; (10) fol.85r, King David in Prayer; (11) fol.99v, the Crucifixion; (12) fol.105r, the Pentecost; (13) fol.110v, a Burial; (14) fol.153r, the Virgin and Child; (15) fol.158r, the Last Judgement.