Calligraphic manuscript specimen sheet depicting St Jerome in his study [Germany (Nuremberg?), c. 1600]

St Jerome

Large calligraphic manuscript specimen sheet depicting St Jerome in his study, manuscript on vellum. [Germany (Nuremberg?), c. 1600]

Single leaf, c. 530 x 430 mm, a central portrait of St Jerome with his lion, sitting at a desk with an open book in front of him and a closed book held in his right hand, a mechanical clock to his left, with a shelf of books behind him, set within an architectural surround, cartouches of text within the surround in different calligraphic styles (most of which are passages from the Gospel of Luke, the largest one at the head being from Jerome's preface to Luke), the portrait in blue ink, the rest in brown ink and highlighted with gold, a few creases from earlier folding of the sheet, a small hole at the lower left hand side, slightly soiled at edges 

A large and magnificent example of calligraphic specimens, in an elaborate architectural frame decorated with flowers and leaves, intricate volutes and cherub's heads. The calligraphy ranges from tiny cursive German lettering to monumental gothic script, in either Latin and German, according to the type of script, with St Jerome portrayed in his study, with writing implements in front of him. The knife on the desk contains the tiny initials WM, presumably indicating the artist and/or calligrapher.

The centre for calligraphy in the sixteenth century was Nuremberg, the home of Johann Georg Neudörffer the elder, whose school continued in the hands of his descendents through the rest of the sixteenth century. 

PROVENANCE

Purchased from Les Enluminures, 2011