Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin [southern Netherlands (Bruges), c.1450s (not before 1450)]

145x104mm, vellum, i+349+i leaves, textually complete but missing a considerable number of full-page miniatures, 16 lines, 75x47mm, written by the same scribe as Baltimore, Walters MS 240, two- to three-line initials with borders in inner or outer margins, 31 five-line initials with full borders, 2 full-page miniatures with full borders on inserted leaves (f.275v, Lay patron kneeling beside his seated confessor in a chapel; f.324v, St John the Baptist in a landscape, the foreground with a lion in a cave); some leaves stained, borders occasionally smudged, the outer margin of f.69 excised, generally in fine condition; bound in modern red velvet over wood boards, gilt and gauffered edges

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."

A very fine manuscript with two miniatures by the Master of the Lee Hours, and a highly personalised choice of texts, a textual twin of Walters MS 240

provenance

(1) The style of the illumination suggests that the manuscript was made at Bruges for the male patron depicted in the first miniature; this is supported by the calendar which includes in red Amand (6 February), Eloi (26 June, 1 December), Remigius and Bavo (1 October), Donatian (14 October) and Nicaise (14 December).

(2) Count Alberto Bardi Serzelli, c.1890s: formerly with bookplate ‘Biblioteca Bardi-Serzelli’ and shelfmark ‘VII 3 15’ (recorded by J.D. Farquhar, Creation and Imitation, 1976, p.168).

(3) Dr Piero Pellizzari, Rome, bought from Antiquariato librario Radaeli, Milan, 1970.

text and illumination

Calendar (f.1r); Hours (f.13r) and Mass of the Trinity (19vr), Hours (f.34r) and Mass of the Dead (f.42r), Hours (f.55r) and Mass of the Holy Spirit (f.60vr), Hours (f.69r) and Mass of All Saints (f.75r), O intemerata (f.81v), Hours (f.86r) and Mass of the Holy Sacrament (f.92v), Hours (f.103r) and Mass of the Cross (f.110v), Seven Last Words (f.115r), Hours (f.120r) and Mass of the Virgin (f.128r), Salutations of the Apostles (f.138r), Gospel Extracts (f.141r), Prayer before Mass (f.146r), Masses of the Conception of the Virgin (f.148r), and of St Michael (f.157r); Hours of the Virgin (f.163); Obsecro te (f.239r); Gospel Extracts (f.241r); the Seven Penitential Psalms each followed by a prayer against one of the Deadly Sins (f.246r), litany (f.264r); a Mass for Sinners (f.276r); Office of the Dead (f.280r); suffrages to Sts Michael (f.323r), John the Baptist (f.324v), Christopher (f.326r), George (f.327r), Sebastian (f.328r), Augustine (f.329r), Francis (f.330r), and Bernardino of Siena (canonized in 1450, f.331r); Psalter of Saint Jerome (f.332r).

The two remaining miniatures have recently been attributed to the Master of the Lee Hours by Gregory Clark (‘The Painters of Philip the Good’s Alexander (Paris, BnF, fr 9342)’, in New Perspectives on Flemish Illumination, forthcoming). The artist takes his name from his contribution to a Book of Hours once in the collection of Ronald Lee, originally illuminated for Duke Charles the Bold of Burgundy and his wife Isabelle of Bourbon.