Album of Cuttings from a Book of Hours, in Latin [France (Tours), c.1490-1500]

23 cuttings, vellum, mounted in a small album, i+19 paper leaves, 163x90mm, modern velvet binding, including: (a) TWO ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURES, c.70x40mm, Presentation in the Temple and Annunciation to the Shepherds; (b) 15 SMALL MINIATURES, typically c.22x22mm, some smaller, some larger, depicting saints: Sebastian, Christopher, Andrew, Nicholas, Catherine, Mass of Gregory, Stephen, Peter & Paul, Michael, James, the Trinity, the Virgin, Laurence, Anne and the Virgin, and Mary Magdalene; all in the style of JEAN BOURDICHON (c) followed by 6 CADEL INITIALS from another manuscript

The small size of the large miniatures suggests that these cuttings come from a small and handsome volume. Particularly fine is the Annunciation to the Shepherds which catches the reflection of the fire on their clothes in the dark night.