FOUR SMALL MINIATURES ON TWO LEAVES FROM A BOOK OF HOURS [FRANCE, BRITTANY OR NORMANDY, C.1420]

two leaves, c.165 by 120mm, vellum, with St Christopher carrying the Christ Child on recto and St Denis holding his mitred head in his hands on verso; and St Martin dividing his cloak on recto and St Mary Magdalene on verso; 16 lines, the ruled space c.105×70mm, each small miniature accompanied by slim bars with foliage and foliage in outer margins on recto, margins with stains from old mounting tape, borders slightly cropped, small pigment losses but generally well preserved

(1) Apparently from a manuscript perhaps produced in north-western France in c.1420, enriched with large miniatures added by the Mazarine Master in Paris. (2) Perhaps owned by Vladimir Simkhovitch (1874–1959) of New York, who sold the four leaves with large miniatures (see below) to the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1953 and 1955. (3) Probably owned by Heinrich Eisemann c.1953, from whom bought by: (4) Eric Korner (1893–1980); his nos. 80–81; sold by his heirs in our rooms, 19 June 1990, lot 26.

ILLUMINATION Several surviving leaves from the same manuscript include large miniatures by the Mazarine Master, including four formerly in the Korner collection, sold in our rooms, 19 June 1990, lots 21-24. Additional sister-leaves from the suffrages include small miniatures in a style characteristic for Brittany or perhaps Normandy and include two leaves from a New York collection sold in our rooms, 21 June 1994, lot 26, bought by Maggs (their Catalogue 1222, 1996, nos. 2–3, with col.pls.) and one bought from Korner by Rosy Schilling and sold after her death in our rooms, 5 December 1994, lot 24.