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Details
BOOK OF HOURS, IN LATIN WITH SOME RUBRICS IN FRENCH, USE OF TROYES, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
[northern France, c.1500]
160 x 120mm. 109 leaves: 1-68, 7(of 8, viii cancelled blank), 8-138, 146(of 8, i lacking, viii likely cancelled blank), horizontal catchwords, 18 lines written in black ink in a gothic bookhand between two verticals and 19 horizontals ruled in red, justification: 109 x 68mm, rubrics in red, versal initials touched yellow, one- and two-line initials in blue, red and burnished gold, similar line-endings, each two-line initial accompanied by panel border of scrolling acanthus, naturalistic fruit and flowers on divided grounds of gold, red, blue and vellum, inhabited with birds, insects and grotesques, some with scrolling inscriptions and branches, large opening initials on burnished gold grounds, SEVENTEEN LARGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURES WITH ARCHITECTURAL FRAMES AND FULL-PAGE BORDERS of similar type (likely lacking calendar and one other leaf probably with miniature, outer and upper edges cropped affecting borders, face of the Virgin on f.15 rubbed, probably from kissing, occasional small pigment losses, browning to margins of six leaves). Late-17th century French panelled calf gilt, the upper cover stamped with central ?AG monogram, the lower cover with a coat of arms, now illegible, marbled endpapers (some scuffing and wear to covers and extremeties), with 17th-century bookmark with oval padded top worked in coloured silks and metal threads, with brown, green, mauve and dusty pink streamers. Modern wooden book cradle.
PROVENANCE:
The Offices of the Virgin and the Dead are for use in the diocese of Troyes, whilst the litany includes Saints Maura, Mastidia and Syria, especially venerated in Troyes. The prayer Obsecro te is in the feminine, suggesting this Hours was made for a lady.
CONTENT:
Gospel extracts f.1-7v; Short Hours of the Cross ff.8-11; Hours of the Holy Spirit ff.11v-14; Office of the Virgin, use of Troyes ff.15-55v: matins f.15, lauds f.23v, prime f.32v, terce f.37, sext f.40v, none f.43v, vespers f.47, compline f.52; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.56-69v; Office of the Dead, use of Troyes ff.70-103; prayer added in a later hand f.103v; Obsecro te, lacking opening, ff.104-106; O Intemerata ff.106v-108; Marian prayers ff.108v-109.
ILLUMINATION:
The style of illumination in this richly-decorated Book of Hours is characteristic of manuscripts made for wealthy patrons in Paris at the turn of the century. However the liturgical uses may also point to this having been a local production from Troyes. The delightful and varied border designs are close in style to those in an Hours also for the use of Troyes now in the Bibliothèque municipal de Chambéry, ms 3. For illumination in Champagne, see F. Avril, M. Hermant and F. Bibolet, Très riches heures de Champagne, exhibition catalogue, Châlons, Troyes and Rheims, 2007-2008, nos 47-49.
The subjects of the miniatures are as follows:
St John on Patmos f.1, St Luke f.3, St Matthew f.4v, St Mark f.6v, Crucifixion f.8, Pentecost f.11v, Annunciation f.15, Visitation f.23v, Nativity f.32v, Annunciation to the Shepherds f.37, Adoration of the Magi, f.40v, Presentation in the Temple f.43v, Flight into Egypt f.47, Coronation of the Virgin f.52, Bathsheba bathing, f.70 Job on the dungheap, Pietà f.106v.
[northern France, c.1500]
160 x 120mm. 109 leaves: 1-68, 7(of 8, viii cancelled blank), 8-138, 146(of 8, i lacking, viii likely cancelled blank), horizontal catchwords, 18 lines written in black ink in a gothic bookhand between two verticals and 19 horizontals ruled in red, justification: 109 x 68mm, rubrics in red, versal initials touched yellow, one- and two-line initials in blue, red and burnished gold, similar line-endings, each two-line initial accompanied by panel border of scrolling acanthus, naturalistic fruit and flowers on divided grounds of gold, red, blue and vellum, inhabited with birds, insects and grotesques, some with scrolling inscriptions and branches, large opening initials on burnished gold grounds, SEVENTEEN LARGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURES WITH ARCHITECTURAL FRAMES AND FULL-PAGE BORDERS of similar type (likely lacking calendar and one other leaf probably with miniature, outer and upper edges cropped affecting borders, face of the Virgin on f.15 rubbed, probably from kissing, occasional small pigment losses, browning to margins of six leaves). Late-17th century French panelled calf gilt, the upper cover stamped with central ?AG monogram, the lower cover with a coat of arms, now illegible, marbled endpapers (some scuffing and wear to covers and extremeties), with 17th-century bookmark with oval padded top worked in coloured silks and metal threads, with brown, green, mauve and dusty pink streamers. Modern wooden book cradle.
PROVENANCE:
The Offices of the Virgin and the Dead are for use in the diocese of Troyes, whilst the litany includes Saints Maura, Mastidia and Syria, especially venerated in Troyes. The prayer Obsecro te is in the feminine, suggesting this Hours was made for a lady.
CONTENT:
Gospel extracts f.1-7v; Short Hours of the Cross ff.8-11; Hours of the Holy Spirit ff.11v-14; Office of the Virgin, use of Troyes ff.15-55v: matins f.15, lauds f.23v, prime f.32v, terce f.37, sext f.40v, none f.43v, vespers f.47, compline f.52; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.56-69v; Office of the Dead, use of Troyes ff.70-103; prayer added in a later hand f.103v; Obsecro te, lacking opening, ff.104-106; O Intemerata ff.106v-108; Marian prayers ff.108v-109.
ILLUMINATION:
The style of illumination in this richly-decorated Book of Hours is characteristic of manuscripts made for wealthy patrons in Paris at the turn of the century. However the liturgical uses may also point to this having been a local production from Troyes. The delightful and varied border designs are close in style to those in an Hours also for the use of Troyes now in the Bibliothèque municipal de Chambéry, ms 3. For illumination in Champagne, see F. Avril, M. Hermant and F. Bibolet, Très riches heures de Champagne, exhibition catalogue, Châlons, Troyes and Rheims, 2007-2008, nos 47-49.
The subjects of the miniatures are as follows:
St John on Patmos f.1, St Luke f.3, St Matthew f.4v, St Mark f.6v, Crucifixion f.8, Pentecost f.11v, Annunciation f.15, Visitation f.23v, Nativity f.32v, Annunciation to the Shepherds f.37, Adoration of the Magi, f.40v, Presentation in the Temple f.43v, Flight into Egypt f.47, Coronation of the Virgin f.52, Bathsheba bathing, f.70 Job on the dungheap, Pietà f.106v.
Provenance
Private Collection.
Brought to you by
Charles Wesley-Hourde
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