Job before his Burning House, miniature on a leaf from a Book of Hours, in Latin [France (perhaps Châlons-sur-Marne), c.1480s]

single leaf, 145x97mm, vellum, with a miniature for the first lesson at Matins of the Office of the Dead (this iconography is extraordinary, and derives from Job 1, in which Job’s sheep and servants are consumed by fire, and his house collapses, killing his children), 14 lines, 65x52mm, f.106 in the parent manuscript, small part of upper right corner cut off and outer margin very slightly cropped, in good condition

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

From a manuscript painted in a very fine but unstudied style, with rich borders including colourful birds set within spatially arranged branches of flowers

(1) The origin of the manuscript is hard to determine. The parent manuscript was described as Use of Bourges. This is probably incorrect. The first lesson of the Office of the Dead here is extremely rare and, according to K. Ottosen, The Responsories and Versicles of the Latin Office of the Dead, 1993, p.74, is only found in sources from Châlons-sur-Marne. A localisation based on the style to Lyon (see S. Gwara, Census of Medieval Manuscripts in South Carolina Collections, 2007, p.46 and no.82) lacks comparable manuscripts.

(2) François-Michel-César Le Tellier (1718-81), Marquis de Courtanvaux.

(3) Edward Mars Elmhirst (1915-57), of Worsboroughdale, Yorkshire.

(4) Harry Walton (d.2007), of Covington, VA; Supplement to de Ricci's Census, 1962, p.518 no.A-103; his sale at Bloomsbury’s, New York, 3 April 2009, lot 15 (119 leaves including 31 miniatures, described as Use of Bourges); one leaf (with the Courtanvaux ink-stamp) had been extracted from the parent volume before 1973 when it was acquired by the University of South Carolina (Early MS 67); the rest of the book was broken-up after the Walton sale; several leaves were Reiss & Sohn, October 2009, lots 844-47, and three were in our rooms, 6 December 2011, lot 9.

From the same manuscript as the following two lots.