ABAA-IPLA-PBFA

Horae BVM. (Hours) Illuminated manuscript on vellum.
Illuminated manuscript on vellum.

Rouen, c. 1480. Sm. 4to. (204 x 133mm.). 8 full-page miniatures in arched compartments within full-borders of coloured flowers, fruit and acanthus leaves on liquid gold grounds, calendar written in red and blue. Attractive panel border on every page, composed of coloured fruit, flowers and acanthus leaves on liquid gold grounds. Many four-line initials supplied in blue or red on contrasting grounds with calligraphic decoration in liquid gold, numerous one- and two- line initials throughout painted in liquid gold on grounds of either red or blue. 96 leaves. 22 lines of text written in a dark brown ink in a lettre batarde. Excellent binding of early 18th century French mottled calf with gilt arms in centre of sides of Marguerite Delphine de Tourves (1701-1735). A very handsome Book of Hours of the characteristic Rouen style, with eight miniatures, apparently the work of two different artists. The manuscript comprises: a Calendar in French (f. lr); Gospel Sequences (f. 13r); Hours of the Virgin (Use of Rouen): Matins (f. 22r), Lauds (f. 29r), Prime (f. 35r), Terce (f. 39r), Sext (f. 41r), None (f. 43r), Vespers (f. 45r) Compline (f. 50r), Hours of the Cross (f. 54r), and of the holy Ghost (f. 57r); Penitential Psalms (f. 60r): Litany (f 67v); Office of the Dead (f. 72v)) and Suffrages (f. 92r). The subjects of the miniatures are: St. John on Patmos (f. 13r). St. John is seated on a grassy, rocky island, while a large eagle hold his pen-case and inkpot not far away. The Annunciation (f. 22r). Mary prays in a chapel in the presence of the Angel Gabriel and a tiny dove. The Nativity (f. 35v). Christ lies on the ground between Mary and Joseph, with a small ox and ass in front of a wattle fence, beyond which is a landscape background. The Adoration of the Magi (f. 41r). Joseph and the three Magi stand in front of the seated Virgin; set outside the stable. The Crucifixion (f. 54r). The Virgin and St. John stand praying on the left and right of the Cross, while Mary Magdalene washes the blood off Christ's feet. Pentecost (f. 57r). The Virgin sits in the middle of the Apostles with a Book of Hours on her lap. King David (f. 60r). King David prays to God in front of a prie-dieu on which lies his harp; landscape background with God in the sky. Death with his spear (f. 72v). Death directs his spear against a man in a long red tunic, accompanied by four companions; landscape background. Four of the miniatures are in the style associated with the Master of the Geneva Latini (see: Plummer, The Last Flowering, p. 66). In particular, the miniatures of the Annunciation and Nativity are remarkably similar to those in another Rouen Book of Hours which appeared in Maggs catalogue 1110 (item 7, with illustration). Both miniatures are so similar in most details that they are at least based on the same model, if not by the same artist. The other four miniatures (St. John on Patmos, Adoration of the Magi, The Crucifixion and Pentecost) are by a different artist whose style is characterised by large square faces which are slightly out of proportion to the bodies. The Calendar is written mostly in red with important names written in blue; among these is St. Martin of Tours (December 11) which points to a Use of Tours. PROVENANCE: Bound in the early 18th century for Marguerite Delphine de Valbelle de Tourves, daughter of Cosme-Maximilien-Louis-Joseph, marquis de Tourves, president of the Parlement in Provence, and Anne-Marie de Demandols. In 1723 she married her cousin Andrée Geoffroy de Valbelle, baron de Meyrangues. See Olivier 1740, 2 and Guigard I, p. 204. Tiny stamped monogram "HL" in top outside corner of inside front cover; (? English) booklabel with initials "A. W." crested by a small lion. Apart from marginal repair to top of first page and to one other leaf, in generally excellent condition with attractively proportioned margins. This manuscript has not been sold at auction and until recently had been in a private English collection. (Item ID: 102837)

$87,500.00