Lot 13
  • 13

THE ANNUNCIATION WITH MONKS, NUNS, AND SAINTS, PROBABLY FROM A PRAYERBOOK [FRANCE (PARIS), 16TH CENTURY (C.1510?)]

Estimate
2,500 - 3,500 GBP
bidding is closed

Description

  • Full-page miniature, probably from a prayerbook [France (Paris), 16th century (c.1510?)]
c.140x93mm, single vellum leaf with full-page miniature depicting kneeling monks with St Stephen, and kneeling nuns with St Francis, the arms (argent, a chevron azure, with three molettes gules, behind which is a crozier), crozier, and perhaps the smaller nun apparently added c.1522(?), the reverse blank except for a partially obscured 18th-century inscription, ‘[Cette] image a 230 [ans d’anti]quite et est du tems de m(adam)e Francoise le jaune a[bbesse] de Soissons’; trimmed to the edges of the painted frame, some flaking of pigments, especially the face of the smaller nun, gentle cockling, but overall in very good condition; framed and glazed

Condition

Condition is described in the main body of the catalogue, 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."

Catalogue Note

Provenance
Françoise Lejeune de Manteaux, Abbess of Soissons: depicted with St Francis (her name-saint), a crozier, and arms. Françoise was transferred to Soissons from the royal double monastery (of monks and nuns) of Fontevraud; this probably explains the emphasis given to the monks, the foremost of whom was presumably named Etienne. The miniature was probably painted for Françoise when she was at Fontevraud, and the arms and crosier were added in 1522, when she became abbess of Soissons. (The monk's arms, which were on his prie-dieu, were doubtless overpainted at the same time). She resigned in 1539 and died in 1560 (see Histoire de l’abbaye royale de Notre-Dame de Soissons, Paris, 1675, pp.255–61).

This is both a very unusual composition, and an intersting example of a miniature being adapted in response to the changing status of its patron.