Lot 31

Man of Sorrows, a historiated initial from a music manuscript, in Czech, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Czech Bohemia (Prague), c.1560-70]

Estimate

4,000 - 6,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

Vellum

a cutting, 100mm. by 104mm., historiated initial ‘P’ formed of light grey fleshy acanthus on a burnished gold ground set within an illusionistic green profile frame, enclosing the three-quarter-length figure of Christ emerging from light pink clouds, a flagellum and a reed sceptre clutched under his right arm, the reverse with two 5-line red staves with music and text in Czech in a spiky gothic bookhand, rastrum 30mm., the illumination rubbed and creased in the upper right corner, the reverse with remains of paper and glue, inscription in black ink dated 1817, and the inventory code 'T 48' in pencil

Provenance

From the collection of Robert Eduard Forrer (1866-1947) of Strasburg, archaeologist and art historian: his stamp (Lugt 941a) on reverse.

Catalogue Note

illumination

During the Bohemian Renaissance, the Utraquist literary brotherhoods became interested in, and began to produce, richly decorated musical manuscripts containing Czech texts of Gregorian chants, polyphonic mass chants (Graduals) and religious hymns (Cantionals). Our cutting probably once belonged to a Cantional. The style of the finely modelled muscular figure of Christ emerging from light pink clouds is related to the work of the celebrated painter Fabián Puléř of Usti nad Labem (d.1563) who was active in Prague (Nová encyklopedie českého výtvarného umění, 1995). A close parallel can be found in the lutický kancionál which is dated c.1558 (Prague, Památník národního písemnictví, TR I 27). Puléř’s work is strongly influenced by Albrecht Dürer’s graphic work.