The Heron Hours, Use of Paris, in Latin and French [France (Paris), c.1490-1500]

174x120mm, vellum, ii+141+ii, complete, 20 quires of 8 leaves except i6, viii-ix6, xvi8-1 (viii cancelled, blank), xviii-xx4, 21 lines, 105x62mm, 15 LARGE and ONE MEDIUM-SIZE MINIATURES with full borders, 24 CALENDAR and 17 SMALL MINIATURES with three-sided borders, all text pages with panel borders, all on gold grounds and inhabited by insects, animals, hybrid creatures, etc., small illuminated initials and line-fillers; some rubbing and pigment loss, but generally in very good condition; red velvet binding, slightly worn, edges gauffered and gilt, fitted case

provenance

(1) Made in Paris for the lady represented holding a Book of Hours and kneeling before the Virgin and Child (f.109r). The calendar includes Geneviève (3 Jan.; also in the litany and suffrages), and Marcel (3 Nov.), both in gold.

(2) Sir Robert Heron (1765-1854) of Stubton Hall, M.P., with his armorial bookplate (Franks 14571).

(3) Private collection of James E. and Elizabeth J. Ferrell, the present owners (bookplate with initials).

text and illumination

Calendar in French, with an entry for every day (f.1r); Gospel extracts (f.7r); prayers ‘Obsecro te’ (f.11r), ‘O intemerata’ (f.13v); Hours of the Virgin, Use of Paris, with Matins (f.16r), Lauds (f.31v), Prime (f.39r), Terce (f.43r), Sext (f.46r), None (f.49r), Vespers (f.52r), Compline (f.57r); Hours of the Cross (f.61r) and of the Holy Spirit (f.64r); Penitential Psalms (f.67r), litany (f.75v), petitions and 3 collects; Office of the Dead (f.80r); prayers in French, the 15 Joys of the Virgin (f.109r) and the Wounds of Christ (f.113r), ending with ‘Sainte vraye croix aoree’; suffrages (f.115v); the Passion of Christ (f.122r); prayer in French 'A toy royne de hault parage …’ (f.129r) (Sonet, no.24); Verses of St Bernard (f.132r); a suffrage to St Maturin (f.133r); the prayer on the Seven Last Words (f.134r); prayers to be said at Mass (f.135r); further prayers including ‘Stabat mater’ (f.138) and ‘Salve regina’ (f.140r).

This richly illuminated Book of Hours was illuminated under the direction of the MASTER OF THE CHRONIQUE SCANDALEUSE who is named after a copy of Jean de Roye’s work today in Paris (BnF, Clair. 481; see N. Reynaud in Manuscrits à peintures, 1993, p.274). This attractive artist who painted most of the large miniatures here is easily recognizable by figures with porcelain faces, heavy eyelids and conspicuous red lips. His technique of assured brushstrokes and lavish use of gold for highlights is rapid but refined. Most remarkable is his subtle use of colour, with dominant blue and crimson red that is set in contrast to light pink and soft apple green. The Master often collaborated with other artists, notably the workshop of Jean Pichore (ibid., p.282). Two more artists worked on this commission, a painter linked to the Pichore circle (ff.39r, 46r, 122r) and another painter closely related to the leading artist of the previous generation, the Master of Jacques de Besancon (ff.43r, 61r; see ibid., p.256).  

The subjects of the large miniatures are: (1) f.7r, John on Patmos; (2) f.16r, Annunciation; (3) f.31v, Visitation; (4) f.39r, Nativity; (5) f.43r, Annunciation to the Shepherds; (6) f.46r, Adoration of the Magi; (7) f.49r, Presentation; (8) f.52r, Massacre of the Innocents; (9) f.57r, Coronation of the Virgin; (10) f.61r, Crucifixion; (11) f.64r, Pentecost; (12) f.67r, King David harping; (13) f.80r, Raising of Lazarus; (14) f.109r, Virgin and Child, with kneeling patron; (15) f.113r, Christ as the Salvator Mundi; enthroned, blessing, and holding an orb.

One medium-size miniature: The Betrayal and Arrest of Christ (f.122r).

The subjects of the small miniatures are: (1) f.8r, Luke; (2) f.9r, Matthew; (3) f.10v, Mark; (4) f.11r, Virgin and Child; (5) f.13v, Pietà; (6) f.115v, Trinity; (7) f.116r, Michael; (8) f.116v, John the Baptist; (9) f.117r, John the Evangelist; (10) f.117v, Peter and Paul; (11) f.118r, Sebastian; (12) f.118v, Nicholas; (13) f.119r, Anne teaching the Virgin Mary to read; (14) f.119v, Mary Magdalene; (15) f.120r, Catherine; (16) f.120v, Margaret; (17) f.121r, Geneviève.