The Hours of Tanneguy IV du Chastel, Use of Rome, in Latin and French [France (Paris), c.1470s]

162x115mm, vellum, iii+228+viii leaves (original endleaves), complete, collation: i12, ii-iii8, iv4, v-xiv8 , xv6, xvi-xxvii8, xxviii6, xxix8, 15 lines, 83x52mm, 24 calendar miniatures, 5 full-page and 26 large miniatures with full borders, all text pages with panel borders in outer margins; prayers to Christ added in a 16th-century hand at end; a few full-page miniatures very slightly cropped with retouching to margins, overall in good condition, bound in old red velvet over wood boards, joints and edges worn, spine repaired

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 hitherto unknown manuscript from the library of the nobleman and bibliophile Tanneguy IV du Chastel

provenance

(1) Made for the Breton noble Tanneguy IV du Chastel (1425-77), grand écuyer of France under Charles VII and governor of the Rousillon and Cerdagne under Louis XI. With an insatiable appetite for illuminated manuscripts, he commissioned new books, and in 1476 he received many of the manuscripts confiscated from Jacques d'Armagnac, duc de Nemours, inheritor of much of Jean de Berry's library; Chastel’s important library is now dispersed, with many volumes kept in the national libraries of Paris and Vienna (see R. Claerr, ‘Un couple de bibliophiles bretons du XVe siècle: Tanguy (IV) du Chastel et Jeanne Raguenel de Malestroit’, in Le Trémazan des Du Chastel, 2004; J.-L. Deuffic, ‘L'évêque et le soldat. Jean et Tanguy (IV) du Chastel’, in Le pouvoir et la foi au Moyen Age, 2010, pp.299-316). This Book of Hours includes Tanneguy du Chastel’s portrait (f.26r) and the mottos, ‘BESOING EN AY’ (f.25v) and ‘LA ME VEUGE’ (f.159v). Many miniatures include his coat-of-arms, barry of 6, or and gules (ff.26r, 46r, 60r, 66r, 71v, 153r, 160r), which have been overpainted and are only visible from the back of each leaf.

(2) Owned in the 18^th century by Niccolò Maria Lercari (1675-1757), titular archbishop of Nazianzo, made cardinal-priest of SS. Giovanni e Paolo in 1726, then cardinal-priest of S. Pietro in Vincoli. His coat-of-arms (usually barry of 5, gules and or), surmounted by a red cardinal’s hat, were painted over the original arms. Lercari’s shield was also added on an almost blank page within an imitation medieval border (f.91v; here barry of 7, gules and or). A note in Italian, recording the number of leaves and miniatures has been added on a back flyleaf in an 18th-century hand. The cardinal cannot be identified with Melchoir de Polignac (1661-1741) as suggested in previous catalogues; his arms were argent and gules, not or and gules.

(3) Captain Robert George Wilmot Berkeley (1898-1969), of Spetchley Park and Berkeley Castle, High Sheriff of Worcestershire and first-class cricketer; his sale in our rooms, 29 November 1949 (“Three Manuscripts of Exceptional Quality”), lot 19.

(4) Apsley George Benet Cherry-Garrard (1886-1959), member of Captain Scott’s 1910–13 British Antarctic Expedition and author of The Worst Journey in the World; his sale in our rooms, 5 June 1961, lot 130.

(5) Paul Francis Webster (1907-1984), lyricist and composer, with his gilt leather booklabel; his sale in our New York rooms, 24 April 1985, lot 100; sale in our London rooms, 20 June 1995, lot 110 (ill. b/w and 2 col.pls.); to the present owner.

text and illumination

Calendar, with an entry for every day, in French (f.1r), including in gold Sts Geneviève and Denis, patron saints of Paris; Gospel extracts (f.13r); Obsecro te (f.20v), O intemerata (f.26r), and Verses of St Bernard (f.31r); Hours of the Virgin, Use of Rome, with Matins (f.33r), Lauds (f.46r), Prime (f.60r), Terce (f.66r), Sext (f.71v), None (f.77r), Vespers (f.83r), Compline (f.93r); Penitential Psalms (f.119r), litany (f.132v); Hours of the Cross (f.145r); Hours of the Holy Spirit (f.153r); Office of the Dead, Use of Rome (f.160r); suffrages to the Saints (f.215r).

This rich and exceptional Book of Hours was illuminated by Maître François and his workshop, one of the leading artists in Paris in the third quarter of the fifteenth century. The documented painter, known only by his first name until recently, has been identified with François Le Barbier (see M. Deldicque in Revue de l’Art, no.183, 2014, pp.9-18). The doll-like figures with their neatly combed hair and the intense glowing colours are characteristic of François’s style. Most remarkable is his three-volume Miroir Historial with more than 500 miniatures made for Jacques d'Armagnac (Paris, BnF, fr. 50-51; Chantilly, ms.722; F. Avril and N. Reynaud, Manuscrits à Peintures, 1993, p.46); the latter was appropriated by Tanneguy du Chastel in 1476.

The large full-page miniatures are: (1) f.13r, St John on Patmos, and, in the foreground, martyred  in a boiling cauldron of oil; (2) f.15r, St Luke in his study and, in a room below, shown as a physician  with his patients, examining a specimen flask; (3) f.17r, St Matthew in his study and, in a room below, resuscitating the son of King Hirtacus; (4) f.19r, St Mark in his study and, in a chapel below, dragged away to his martyrdom; (5) f.20v, the Meeting at the Golden Gate; in the left border an angel brings the news to Joachim in a field and, in a room below, to St Anne; (6) f.26r, the Virgin and Child, adored by the owner of the manuscript; (7) f.33r, the Annunciation, with smaller miniatures in the borders: a) the Meeting at the Golden Gate, b) the Birth of the Virgin, and c) the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple; (8) f.46r, the Visitation; (9) f.60r, the Nativity of Christ; (10) f.66r, the Annunciation to the Shepherds; (11) f.71v, the Adoration of the Magi; (12) f.77r, the Presentation in the Temple; (13) f.83r, the Flight into Egypt; (14) f.93r, the Coronation of the Virgin; (15) f.119r, David in Penitence; with smaller miniatures in the borders: a) David with Goliath, b) David showing Goliath’s head to women who sing his praises, and c) David bringing the head to Saul; (16) f.145r, the Crucifixion; with smaller miniatures in the borders: a) Pilate washing his hands, b) the Scourging of Christ, and c) Christ carrying the Cross; (17) f.153r, Pentecost; (18) f.160r, Funeral service; (19) f.215r, St Michael; (20) f.216r, Sts Peter and Paul; (21) f.217r, St Nicholas; (22) f.218r, St Stephen; (23) f.219r, St Sebastian; (24) f.220r, St Laurence; (25) f.221r, St Christopher carrying the Christ Child; (26) f.222r, St Mary Magdalene; (27) f.223r, St Catherine; (28) f.224r, St Margaret; (29) f.225r, St Anthony; (30) f.226r, St Barbara; (31) f.227r, St Martha.