The Four Evangelists and the Mass of the Dead, two miniatures on leaves from a Book of Hours, in Latin [France (Rouen), c.1480s]

two single leaves, vellum, 175x125mm, with a miniature for the Gospel Lessons and another for the Office of the Dead, 15 lines, 97x67mm, rubbed and smudged

These two miniatures show the influence of the MASTER OF THE ÉCHEVINAGE DE ROUEN, who was so named after his patrons, the aldermen of Rouen, who assembled one of the first public libraries in France. The work of the Échevinage Master is easily recognizable by his pale figures with round eyes modelled by grey shading. Flat tapestries often cover walls in his miniatures, and his strong colours highlighted with gold hatch strokes create a cool atmosphere. The Échevinage Master was the most prolific Norman illuminator of the third quarter of the 15th century.