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St Agatha, historiated initial ‘O’ cut from a choirbook, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Bohemia, perhaps Silesia, final quarter 15th century]
细节
Anonymous Bohemian artist
St Agatha, historiated initial ‘O’ cut from a choirbook, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Bohemia, perhaps Silesia, final quarter 15th century]
A fine example of late-15th-century illumination in the kingdom of Bohemia from the Korner collection; the style of the lush green acanthus that winds through the body of the initial suggests a more precise localisation, to the Silesia region.
124 x 101mm. St Agatha depicted inside a large initial ‘O’, probably marking the opening of the antiphon for the feast of St Agatha (‘O quam pulchra’; 5 February), (minor rubbing to the saint’s robe). Framed. Provenance: (1) Eric Korner (1893-1980); his sale, Sotheby’s 7th July 2009, lot 112.
The dark green acanthus leaves winding around a rod inside the body of the initial are commonly seen in manuscripts painted in the kingdom of Bohemia throughout the 15th century; the leaf forms visible here, and their glossy surface, point to a date of production towards the end of the century. The rather traditional letter form – the acanthus tendrils strictly confined within the pronounced, almost beaded outline of the initial – is akin to those found in manuscripts painted in the Silesia region in the final quarter of the 15th century; two manuscripts in Wroclaw University Library, dating to around 1485 and 1495 respectively (MS I F 437-438), feature comparable initials, in which the leaf veins have been picked out with the same beading as the rounded outline of the initial. The figure of St Agatha herself suggests an artist of some talent – the body of the saint and her drapery are very carefully modelled – while the almond-shaped motifs on the burnished gold ground of the initial are an intriguing addition, without known precedent.
St Agatha, historiated initial ‘O’ cut from a choirbook, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Bohemia, perhaps Silesia, final quarter 15th century]
A fine example of late-15th-century illumination in the kingdom of Bohemia from the Korner collection; the style of the lush green acanthus that winds through the body of the initial suggests a more precise localisation, to the Silesia region.
124 x 101mm. St Agatha depicted inside a large initial ‘O’, probably marking the opening of the antiphon for the feast of St Agatha (‘O quam pulchra’; 5 February), (minor rubbing to the saint’s robe). Framed. Provenance: (1) Eric Korner (1893-1980); his sale, Sotheby’s 7th July 2009, lot 112.
The dark green acanthus leaves winding around a rod inside the body of the initial are commonly seen in manuscripts painted in the kingdom of Bohemia throughout the 15th century; the leaf forms visible here, and their glossy surface, point to a date of production towards the end of the century. The rather traditional letter form – the acanthus tendrils strictly confined within the pronounced, almost beaded outline of the initial – is akin to those found in manuscripts painted in the Silesia region in the final quarter of the 15th century; two manuscripts in Wroclaw University Library, dating to around 1485 and 1495 respectively (MS I F 437-438), feature comparable initials, in which the leaf veins have been picked out with the same beading as the rounded outline of the initial. The figure of St Agatha herself suggests an artist of some talent – the body of the saint and her drapery are very carefully modelled – while the almond-shaped motifs on the burnished gold ground of the initial are an intriguing addition, without known precedent.
注意事项
This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.
荣誉呈献
Emily Pilling
Senior Sale Coordinator