Illuminated leaf from an Antiphonal with initial D by Berardo da Teramo, on vellum, in Latin, (Italy, Abruzzo), c.1330–1340

Illuminated leaf from an Antiphonal with initial D by Berardo da Teramo

on vellum, in Latin, (Italy, Abruzzo), c.1330–1340, 580 × 395 mm; leaf (fol.XXXXVIIIv) with initial D initial, with 10 lines of music in square notation, text written in a liturgical Littera rotunda, containing the text for 21 December for the Feast of St Thomas; slight darkening of edges, minute spotting, otherwise excellent condition.

PROVENANCE

1. Monastery of St Benedetto a Gabiano in Giulianova (Abruzzo).
2. London, Christie’s sale, 24 November 1993, lot 3.
3. Private Collection, London until 2003.
4. Zurich Koller sale, 18 March 2008, lot 3804.
5. Private Collection, Switzerland.

A BEAUTIFUL LEAF BY BERARDO DA TERAMO, ABRRUZO'S LEADING ARTIST OF THE 14TH CENTURY

COMMENTARY

Surrounded by striking layers of red and blue, St Thomas is depicted in adoration while the hand of God reaches down to bless the apostle. The body of the initial D is adorned with leaves traced in white and shades of light blue, and its vine-like tendrils extend far along the page. The leaf contains ten lines of music in fine square notation and features four one-line initials in blue or red with contrasting fine ink embellishments. The different parts of the liturgy are separated by rubricated letters. The text provided on the leaf is the first antiphon for the feast of St Thomas on 21 December. Dominus dixit ad me filius meus es tu ego hodie genui te.

This illuminated leaf is part of a group of 12 leaves from an Antiphonal made by Berardo da Teramo, who signed the first and highly elaborate page (inv. 2084), now held at the Fondazione G. Cini in Venice, with: Dopnus (Dominus) Beradus de Teramo fecit hoc opus (Dominus Berardus of Teramo made this work) below the initial A. Conveniently, the leaf reveals the identity of the patron as well as the reason for its creation: Archipresbiter Jacobus de sancto Flaviano fecit fieri hoc opus pro anima fratris Mathei propositi Gabiani cuius anima benedicatur. Jacopo or Giacomo of San Flaviano commissioned this choirbook in memory of his brother Matteo, who was a curate at the Benedictine monastery of Gabiano at Giulianova.

Due to the heraldry found in the margins of the extant leaves and particularly the frontispiece, it is likely that Jacopo/Giacomo was a member of the Acquaviva family, dukes of the region of San Flaviano (Leone De Castris 2006). This illustrious patronage might explain why the artist tried to emulate the style of French courtly illumination, since the Acquaviva family — part of the southern Italian nobility — were allied with the house of Anjou in Naples.

While not much is known of Berardo da Teramo’s life, he was one of the leading artists of the region and likely active between 1340 and 1350. His style, for which this leaf is a great example, is marked by graphic figures and the adaption of archaic Giottoesque forms and is strongly influenced by Umbrian illumination of the time.

SISTER LEAVES

1. From an Antiphonal (Proper of Saints and Proper of Time): Venice, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, inv. 2084, The Last Judgment in an Initial A (Aspiciens a longe ecce video Dei... First Resp. at First Noct. for the First Sunday of Advent) on a leaf from an antiphonary (fig.a).
2. Milan, Hoepli collection (formerly), The Martyrdom of Saint Lucy in an Initial L (Lucia virgo... First Resp. at Matins for the feast of Saint Lucy, 13 Dec.) on a leaf from an antiphonary, 563 × 395 mm.
3. Zurich, Koller sale, 18 March 2008 (formerly London, Christie’s sale, 24 November 1993, lot 3), Christ Blessed by His Father in an Initial D (Dominus dixit ad me filius meus es tu ego hodie genui te... Ant. at First Noct. for Christmas Day) on a leaf (fol.48v) from an antiphonary, 580 × 395 mm (fig.b).
4. Zurich, private collection (formerly New York, Robert Lehman collection), The Nativity in an Initial H (Hodie nobis celorum Rex de Virgine nas(c)i... Third Resp. at First Noct. for Christmas Day) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 585 × 393 mm (fig. c).
5. Venice, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, inv. 2087, The Martyrdom of Saint Stephen in an Initial S (Stefano autem plenis gratia... Third Resp. at First Noct. for the feast of Saint Stephen, 26 Dec.) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 580 × 400 mm.
6. Milan, Hoepli sale, 7–9 April 1927, lot 331, The Adoration of the Magi in an Initial A (Ante luciferum genitus, et ante saecula... First Ant. at Lauds for Epiphany) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 580 × 400 mm.
7. Zurich, Hoepli sale, 11–12 June 1929, lot 23, The Baptism of Christ in an Initial B (Baptizat miles regem servus...) Second Magnificat Ant. at Second Vespers for the Sunday within the Octave of Epiphany) on a leaf (fol.87) from an antiphonal, 580 × 400 mm.
8. Saint Maurus Rescuing Placidus from Drowning in an Initial B (Beatissimus maurus clarissimo genere... First Resp. at First Noct. for the feast of Saint Maurus, 15 Jan.) on a leaf from an antiphonal.
9. Milan, Hoepli collection (formerly; Toesca 1930, pp.85–86, cat.86), The Martyrdom of Saint Sebastian in an Initial S (Sebastianus mediolanensium partum... First Ant. at First Noct. for the feast of Saint Sebastian, 20 Jan.) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 590 × 400 mm.
10. Venice, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, inv.2085, The Presentation in the Temple in an Initial A (Adorna thalamum tuum... First Resp. at First Noct. for the feast of the Purification of the Virgin, 2 Feb.) on a leaf (fol. 129) from an antiphonal, 590 × 400 mm.
11. Venice, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, inv.2090, Saint Benedict and His Fellow Monks in an Initial F (Fuit vir vitae venerabilis gratia abbas Benedictus... First Resp. at First Noct. for the feast of Saint Benedict, 21 March) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 570 × 390 mm.
12. Milan, Hoepli collection (formerly; Toesca 1930, p.87, cat.89), The Assumption of the Virgin in an Initial E (Exalta est sancta Dei genetrix... First Ant. at First Noct. for the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 15 Aug.) on a leaf from an antiphonal, 560 × 395 mm.

LITERATURE

Freuler, Gaudenz. Italian Miniatures from the 12^th to the 16^th Centuries, vol. 2, Milan, 2013.

Palladino, Pia. Treasures of a Lost Art, New Haven/London, 2003.

Toesca, Pietro. Monumenti e studi per la storia della miniatura italiana: La collezione di Ulrico Hoepli, Milan, 1930, pp.84–89.