Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin [southern Netherlands (perhaps Brussels), late 15th century]

182x130mm, vellum, ii+100+ii leaves (flyleaves modern) plus tissue interleaves, complete but without a calendar, 20 lines, 118x74mm, 13 full-page miniatures with full borders, facing 6-line initials with full borders, 16 small miniatures, and 1 historiated initial with three-sided borders; bound in polished red calf edged with triple gilt fillets, the joints expertly repaired, apparently for Alan Thomas

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."

Painted in an unusual style, perhaps by an unstudied Brussels illuminator

provenance

(1) Written for the use of a woman (feminine forms occur on ff.17r, 18r), who perhaps lived at Saintes (now part of Tubize), about 15 miles south-west of Brussels: the inclusion in the litany of the extremely rare St Reineldis suggests a specific devotion: according to her 11th-century Vita she was a 7th-century sister of St Gudula (whose relics were at Brussels) and daughter of St Amalberga of Maubeuge (about 50 miles south-west of Brussels), who took the veil at Saintes, where she was martyred, and where the church of Sainte-Renelde has been dedicated to her since the Middle Ages. The inclusion of the suffrage to St Adrian supports a localisation in the diocese of Cambrai. The volume may once have had a calendar tailored to the Use of Saintes, discarded by a later owner living somewhere else.

(2) Armorial bookplate of William de Caux.

(3) Sold in our rooms 25 June 1985, lot 107, with two plates, to Symonds, and 21 June 1988, lot 101, to Alan Thomas, his price-code (on tissue after f.1v, lower margin).

text and illumination

Hours of the Cross (f.2r); Hours of the Holy Spirit (f.6r); Mass of the Virgin (f.10r); Gospel extracts (f.13r); Obsecro te (f.16r), O intemerata (f.18r); suffrages to Sts (f.19v); Hours of the Virgin with Matins (f.25r), Lauds (f.35r), Prime (f.42r), Terce (f.45r), Sext (f.48r), None (f.51r), Vespers (f.54r), Compline (f.59r), followed by variants for liturgical seasons; the Penitential Psalms (f.66r), litany (f.71v); Office of the Dead (f.77r).

The large miniatures are: (1) f.1v, Crucifixion; (2) f.3v, Pentecost; (3), f.9v, Virgin and Child; (4) f.24v, Annunciation; (5) f.34v, Visitation; (6) f.41v, Nativity; (7) f.44v, Two Shepherds with their flock; (8) f.47v, Adoration of the Magi; (9) f.50v, Presentation; (10) f.53v, Massacre of the Innocents; (11) f.58v, Flight into Egypt; (12) f.65v, King David; (13) f.76v, the Raising of Lazarus.