![BOOK OF HOURS, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [north-eastern Italy], 1477.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0026_001(book_of_hours_use_of_rome_in_latin_illuminated_manuscript_on_vellum_no074223).jpg?w=1)
![BOOK OF HOURS, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [north-eastern Italy], 1477.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0026_002(book_of_hours_use_of_rome_in_latin_illuminated_manuscript_on_vellum_no074251).jpg?w=1)
![BOOK OF HOURS, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [north-eastern Italy], 1477.](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/2015/CKS/2015_CKS_10457_0026_000(book_of_hours_use_of_rome_in_latin_illuminated_manuscript_on_vellum_no074156).jpg?w=1)
Details
BOOK OF HOURS, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [north-eastern Italy], 1477.
110 x 73mm. 137 leaves, written space: 64 x 44mm. THREE HISTORIATED INITIALS and FIFTEEN ILLUMINATED INITIALS with partial borders, penwork initials in red or blue with marginal flourishing throughout, one later added DOUBLE-PAGE OPENING depicting the Annunciation (lacking single inserted leaves before ff.23, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 51, 68, 73, 115, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 130, some originally with text, all likely with later added miniatures on versos, with consequent offsetting on facing pages, very light water-staining in upper margins). 18th-century calf tooled in gold (rebacked and restored).
PROVENANCE:
(1) The manuscript is dated 1477 and the style of illumination indicates a northeastern Italian production. (2) Added at a later date (possibly early 17th century) and following the calendar is a double-page miniature depicting the Annunciation and opening the text for the Hours of the Virgin, with an unidentifed coat of arms. (3) Bequest of Mrs GWYNNE M. ANDREWS, 1930, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
CONTENT:
Calendar ff. 1-14; Office of the Virgin, use of Rome, with variations ff.15-67v: matins f.15, lauds f.23, prime f.33, terce f.36, sext f.39, none f.42, vespers f.45, compline f.51; Office of the Dead, use of Rome, ff.68-95v; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.96-114v; Hours of the Cross ff.115-129v; Hours of the Passion (matins only) ff.130-137v.
A delightful little Italian pocket Book of Hours. It was quite common for Italian Books of Hours to only have one miniature, so it is likely that the offsetting to the pages with historiated initials is from later, added illumination. The style of the original historiated and illuminated initials is typical of north-eastern Italy at the end of the 15th century.
The historiated initials are on ff. 68, 96 and 130.
110 x 73mm. 137 leaves, written space: 64 x 44mm. THREE HISTORIATED INITIALS and FIFTEEN ILLUMINATED INITIALS with partial borders, penwork initials in red or blue with marginal flourishing throughout, one later added DOUBLE-PAGE OPENING depicting the Annunciation (lacking single inserted leaves before ff.23, 33, 36, 39, 42, 45, 51, 68, 73, 115, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 130, some originally with text, all likely with later added miniatures on versos, with consequent offsetting on facing pages, very light water-staining in upper margins). 18th-century calf tooled in gold (rebacked and restored).
PROVENANCE:
(1) The manuscript is dated 1477 and the style of illumination indicates a northeastern Italian production. (2) Added at a later date (possibly early 17th century) and following the calendar is a double-page miniature depicting the Annunciation and opening the text for the Hours of the Virgin, with an unidentifed coat of arms. (3) Bequest of Mrs GWYNNE M. ANDREWS, 1930, to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
CONTENT:
Calendar ff. 1-14; Office of the Virgin, use of Rome, with variations ff.15-67v: matins f.15, lauds f.23, prime f.33, terce f.36, sext f.39, none f.42, vespers f.45, compline f.51; Office of the Dead, use of Rome, ff.68-95v; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.96-114v; Hours of the Cross ff.115-129v; Hours of the Passion (matins only) ff.130-137v.
A delightful little Italian pocket Book of Hours. It was quite common for Italian Books of Hours to only have one miniature, so it is likely that the offsetting to the pages with historiated initials is from later, added illumination. The style of the original historiated and illuminated initials is typical of north-eastern Italy at the end of the 15th century.
The historiated initials are on ff. 68, 96 and 130.
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Eugenio Donadoni