Beschreibung:

BOOK OF HOURS, use of Paris, in Latin and French, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [Paris?, third quarter of the 15th century] 157 x 105 mm., 178 leaves (lacking only first leaf of Gospel Sequences, else complete), collation: 1 1 2 , 2 8 (- 1 ) , 3 6 , 4-9 8 , 10 8 + 1 , 11-13 8 , 14 4 , 15-20 8 , 21 4 , 22-23 8 , 17 lines, ruled in red, justification 89 x 52 mm., written in brown ink in a gothic textura, rubrics in red, versals and two-line initials in gold on blue and red ground with white tracery and similar line-fillers, 11 LARGE HISTORIATED INITIALS (8-line or larger) each within three-quarters border of foliage, acorn leaves, fruit and flowers, 5 LARGE MINIATURES in arched compartments (the first rubbed), ALL WITHIN FULL BORDERS. 17th-century French red morocco, elaborately tooled in gilt (upper cover detached), edges gilt. PROVENANCE: Made for the use of Paris. The Calendar includes Saints Genevieve (3 Jan. in gold, 26 Nov. in red, also in the Litany and Suffrages), Denis (in gold), Eloy (25 June in gold and 1 Dec. in red), Estienne (3 August and 26 Dec. in gold). Signature of Mabier? on first leaf dated 1769. 18th-century bookplate of Nicolaus Joseph Foucault, (1643-1721), Conseiller d'Etat and eminent collector. TEXT: f.1-12 Calendar; f.13 Gospel Sequences (lacks first leaf); f.18 Obsecro te; f.22v O intemerata; f.26 Hours of the Virgin, Matins; f.38 Lauds; f.50 Prime; f.56v Terce; f.61 Sext; f.65v None; f.70 Vespers; f.77 Compline; f.83 Hours of the Cross; f.87 Hour of the Holy Ghost; f.91 Penitential Psalms; f.111 Office of the Dead; f.163 xv joies notre Dame 'Doulce dame de misericorde'; f.169 vii requêtes a notre Seigneur 'doulx dieu doulx pere'; Suffrages to Saints Michael, John the Baptist, Nicolas, Christopher, Sebastian, Margaret, Barbara, Genevieve. DECORATION: The miniatures are executed in the style of the workshop of the Maitre Francois. They may be by a provincial close follower, who modelled his compositions on the Maitre Francois pattern. THE SUBJECTS OF THE LARGE MINIATURES ARE: folio 26. Annunciation, in a gothic chamber (the face and cloak of the Angel is rubbed) folio 83. Crucifixion, the Virgin and John standing at the side of the Cross folio 87. Pentecost (the drapery of two of the Apostles a little rubbed) folio 91. King David praying before an altar (his cloak a little rubbed) folio 111. A funeral service. Two monks praying in a church THE 11 HISTORIATED INITIALS ARE: folio 18v. The Virgin holding the Child within a mandorla; folio 22v. Pieta; folio 38. Visitation; folio 50. Nativity; folio 56v. Annunciation to the Shepherds; folio 61. Adoration of the Magi; folio 65v. Presentation in the Temple; folio 70. Flight into Egypt; folio 77. Coronation of the Virgin; folio 163. Virgin and Child enthroned; folio 169. The Holy Trinity