- 21
ANTIPHONARY, TEMPORALE VOLUME, IN LATIN [ITALY (LOMBARDY, CREMONA), 16TH CENTURY (SECOND HALF)]
Estimate
30,000 - 50,000 GBP
bidding is closed
Description
- [Italy (Lombardy, Cremona), 16th century (second half)]
c.510x380mm, manuscript on vellum, 187 leaves, complete, mostly in quires of 4 leaves (quires xxix and xlvii are bifolia), discreet foliation in lower right corner, pagination (used here) in stencilled numerals in the top corners (‘14’ omitted), written with five lines of text and music on 4-line staves (rastrum: c.38mm), the ruled space c.380x265mm, pp.2, 368 ruled, otherwise blank, illuminated with ten large and five smaller historiated initials each on a gold ground, of varying sizes, the largest the height of two lines of text and music (c.170x170mm), numerous smaller initials alternately in red or blue, some very finely drawn cadell initials with human heads, bound in its contemporary binding (c.580x420mm including spikes), sewn on six double bands, the thick wood boards covered with plain brown leather, metal corner-pieces stamped with Agnus dei, sunburst , ‘ave’ and ‘yhs’ monogram tools, centre-pieces with bosses, and the lower cover with corner bosses and two large pins for strap-and-pin fastenings (straps missing), the lower back panel engraved ‘V. XII’, approximately 35 fore-edge tabs, rebacked
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."
"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
(1) Written for the convent of friars minor (Franciscans) of Soresina (near Cremona, Lombardy), formerly dedicated to St Francis, and later to the Immaculate Conception, as recorded on the title-page (p.1), their Volume XII (as recorded on p.1 and the binding; vols.I-XI presumably consisted of Choir Psalters, Graduals, Missals, etc.). (2) 19th-century bookseller’s label (front pastedown). (3) Bernard Gantner (b.1928), artist, of Lachapelle-sous-Chaux, France. Text
Title-page: ‘Volumen .XII. / Antiphonarium de Tempore / uno volumine comprehensum / Pro Cou. ff. Min. Sorex. / Cremon. olim s.p.n. [sancto patrono nostro?] Francisco / nunc Immac. Concep. sacro / [date erased, perhaps beginning 18 iulii]’ (p.1); Temporale (p.3) for the whole year from the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent, to the 24th Sunday after Pentecost; added indexes of: feasts (p.369), Benedictus antiphons (p.371), and Magnificat antiphons (p.372).
Illumination
Because the quantity of illuminated manuscripts being produced fell sharply in the 16th century, it is difficult to find close comparisons for books made outside major centres such as Milan and Rome. A possible clue to the date of the present book is the form of the Star of Bethlehem in the Adoration of the Magi initial: it is depicted as a comet with a very prominent tail, which may have been inspired by the ‘Great Comets’ of 1577 and 1580, which were described in contemporary accounts as being as bright as the moon.
The subjects of the historiated initials are: (1) the Holy Spirit (p.53; 17 December, ‘O sapientia’), (2) Nativity (p.78), (3) Adoration of the Shepherds (p.87), (4) St Stephen (p.92), (5) St John the Evangelist blessing the poisoned chalice (p.96), (6) a symbolic landscape with a halo(?) over a palm-tree flanked by lilies perhaps representing innocent martyrs (p.101; feast of the Holy Innocents), (7) Presentation in the Temple (p.107), (8) Adoration of the Magi (p.116), (9) Resurrection (p.229), (10) a sunrise over a landscape (p.232; ‘Hec dies quam fecit dominus …’), (11) Ascension (p.255), (12) Pentecost (p.262), (13) Trinity (p.278; Trinity Sunday), (14) Salvator Mundi (p.287; Corpus Christi Matins), (15) vase with grapes and ears of corn (p.292; Corpus Christi Lauds).
(1) Written for the convent of friars minor (Franciscans) of Soresina (near Cremona, Lombardy), formerly dedicated to St Francis, and later to the Immaculate Conception, as recorded on the title-page (p.1), their Volume XII (as recorded on p.1 and the binding; vols.I-XI presumably consisted of Choir Psalters, Graduals, Missals, etc.). (2) 19th-century bookseller’s label (front pastedown). (3) Bernard Gantner (b.1928), artist, of Lachapelle-sous-Chaux, France. Text
Title-page: ‘Volumen .XII. / Antiphonarium de Tempore / uno volumine comprehensum / Pro Cou. ff. Min. Sorex. / Cremon. olim s.p.n. [sancto patrono nostro?] Francisco / nunc Immac. Concep. sacro / [date erased, perhaps beginning 18 iulii]’ (p.1); Temporale (p.3) for the whole year from the Saturday before the first Sunday in Advent, to the 24th Sunday after Pentecost; added indexes of: feasts (p.369), Benedictus antiphons (p.371), and Magnificat antiphons (p.372).
Illumination
Because the quantity of illuminated manuscripts being produced fell sharply in the 16th century, it is difficult to find close comparisons for books made outside major centres such as Milan and Rome. A possible clue to the date of the present book is the form of the Star of Bethlehem in the Adoration of the Magi initial: it is depicted as a comet with a very prominent tail, which may have been inspired by the ‘Great Comets’ of 1577 and 1580, which were described in contemporary accounts as being as bright as the moon.
The subjects of the historiated initials are: (1) the Holy Spirit (p.53; 17 December, ‘O sapientia’), (2) Nativity (p.78), (3) Adoration of the Shepherds (p.87), (4) St Stephen (p.92), (5) St John the Evangelist blessing the poisoned chalice (p.96), (6) a symbolic landscape with a halo(?) over a palm-tree flanked by lilies perhaps representing innocent martyrs (p.101; feast of the Holy Innocents), (7) Presentation in the Temple (p.107), (8) Adoration of the Magi (p.116), (9) Resurrection (p.229), (10) a sunrise over a landscape (p.232; ‘Hec dies quam fecit dominus …’), (11) Ascension (p.255), (12) Pentecost (p.262), (13) Trinity (p.278; Trinity Sunday), (14) Salvator Mundi (p.287; Corpus Christi Matins), (15) vase with grapes and ears of corn (p.292; Corpus Christi Lauds).