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Details
BOOK OF HOURS, use of Paris, in Latin, Calendar in French, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
[Paris, ca. 1450]
160 x 115 mm., 164 leaves, COMPLETE, collation: 112, 2-78, 84, 9-148, 154, 16-218. 15 lines, ruled in red, justification 87/90 x 57 mm., written in black and brown ink in a gothic textura, rubrics in red, versals and two-line initials in gold on red and blue ground with white tracery, 2 four-line initials in red and blue on gold ground infilled with foliage, inner and outer panel borders of scrolled gold ivy leaves on hairline stems with coloured fruit and flowers on nearly every page, 10 LARGE MINIATURES in arched compartments within baguette borders and gold ivy leaves on hairline stems and coloured flowers (3 borders slightly cropped, a few miniatures with some over-painting.) 16th-century blindstamped calf over wooden boards (joints repaired, one clasp lacking), edges gilt.
PROVENANCE: The Calendar contains many of the saints associated with Paris. The feasts in gold include the following saints: Genevieve (3 Jan.), Gregoire (13 March), Vincent (22 April), Ivo (19 May), Anne (28 July), Barthelemy (24 Aug.), Eloy (25 Aug.), Laurence (10 Sept.), Avitus (14 Sept.), Denis (9 Oct.), Martin (11 Nov.). There are no marks of personal ownership, a 19th-century German library shelf label is inside the upper cover.
TEXT: f.1-12 Calendar; f.13 Gospel Sequences; f.18 Obsecro te; f.22v O intemerata; f.28 blank; f.29 Hours of the Virgin, Matins; f.53 Lauds; f.65 Terce; f.75v Sext; f.79v None; f.84 Vespers; f.91 Compline; f.97 Penitential Psalms; f.117 Office of the Dead.
DECORATION: The miniatures were executed by two artists. The first, responsible for the Annunciation to the Shepherds and King David, is the more accomplished, with lively figures in attractive landscapes, and may be regarded as a follower of the Bedford Master, the leading Parisian illuminator of his day. The second artist, who painted the remaining miniatures, has tried to achieve a similar style; however, the figures are stiff and elongated and the faces not very expressive.
THE SUBJECTS OF THE MINIATURES ARE:
folio 29. The Annunciation in a gothic chamber
folio 53. The Visitation in a rocky landscape, trees in the background
folio 65. Nativity. The Virgin in prayer before the crib, Joseph, an old man with a stick, at back
folio 71. Annunciation to the Shepherds. The two shepherds pointing to heaven, even the sheep look curious. The angel above is somewhat smudged, but surrounded by a wide circle of burnished gold
folio 75v. Adoration of the Magi. They are offering their presents in the manger, an ox and an ass look on behind a wattle fence
folio 79v. Presentation in the Temple
folio 84. Flight into Egypt. A younger Joseph leads the ass on which the Virgin and Child are seated
folio 91. Coronation of the Virgin. The Virgin kneeling before Christ enthroned, an angel above holding the crown
folio 97. King David in a green rocky landscape, his harp at his side
folio 117. Funeral Service. Mourners and four monks round a red bier, on a green checkered floor
[Paris, ca. 1450]
160 x 115 mm., 164 leaves, COMPLETE, collation: 112, 2-78, 84, 9-148, 154, 16-218. 15 lines, ruled in red, justification 87/90 x 57 mm., written in black and brown ink in a gothic textura, rubrics in red, versals and two-line initials in gold on red and blue ground with white tracery, 2 four-line initials in red and blue on gold ground infilled with foliage, inner and outer panel borders of scrolled gold ivy leaves on hairline stems with coloured fruit and flowers on nearly every page, 10 LARGE MINIATURES in arched compartments within baguette borders and gold ivy leaves on hairline stems and coloured flowers (3 borders slightly cropped, a few miniatures with some over-painting.) 16th-century blindstamped calf over wooden boards (joints repaired, one clasp lacking), edges gilt.
PROVENANCE: The Calendar contains many of the saints associated with Paris. The feasts in gold include the following saints: Genevieve (3 Jan.), Gregoire (13 March), Vincent (22 April), Ivo (19 May), Anne (28 July), Barthelemy (24 Aug.), Eloy (25 Aug.), Laurence (10 Sept.), Avitus (14 Sept.), Denis (9 Oct.), Martin (11 Nov.). There are no marks of personal ownership, a 19th-century German library shelf label is inside the upper cover.
TEXT: f.1-12 Calendar; f.13 Gospel Sequences; f.18 Obsecro te; f.22v O intemerata; f.28 blank; f.29 Hours of the Virgin, Matins; f.53 Lauds; f.65 Terce; f.75v Sext; f.79v None; f.84 Vespers; f.91 Compline; f.97 Penitential Psalms; f.117 Office of the Dead.
DECORATION: The miniatures were executed by two artists. The first, responsible for the Annunciation to the Shepherds and King David, is the more accomplished, with lively figures in attractive landscapes, and may be regarded as a follower of the Bedford Master, the leading Parisian illuminator of his day. The second artist, who painted the remaining miniatures, has tried to achieve a similar style; however, the figures are stiff and elongated and the faces not very expressive.
THE SUBJECTS OF THE MINIATURES ARE:
folio 29. The Annunciation in a gothic chamber
folio 53. The Visitation in a rocky landscape, trees in the background
folio 65. Nativity. The Virgin in prayer before the crib, Joseph, an old man with a stick, at back
folio 71. Annunciation to the Shepherds. The two shepherds pointing to heaven, even the sheep look curious. The angel above is somewhat smudged, but surrounded by a wide circle of burnished gold
folio 75v. Adoration of the Magi. They are offering their presents in the manger, an ox and an ass look on behind a wattle fence
folio 79v. Presentation in the Temple
folio 84. Flight into Egypt. A younger Joseph leads the ass on which the Virgin and Child are seated
folio 91. Coronation of the Virgin. The Virgin kneeling before Christ enthroned, an angel above holding the crown
folio 97. King David in a green rocky landscape, his harp at his side
folio 117. Funeral Service. Mourners and four monks round a red bier, on a green checkered floor