Beschreibung:

BREVIARY OF BERTRAND DE CHALENÇON, Bishop of Rodez, use of Rome, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [?Tours, c.1490] 175 x 125mm. 512 leaves: 1-4 1 0, 5 9(of 10, lacking i), 6-21 1 0, 22 8, 23 8(of 10, lacking bifolium i & x), 24-32 1 0 (25/iii and 27/viii cut), 28-32 1 0, 33 1 2(a misplaced bifolium between viii & ix), 34-51 1 0, 52 5 (of 6, lacking iiii), vertical catchwords against the inner vertical in the lower margin of final versos, double columns of 39 lines written in brown ink in a gothic bookhand of two sizes, rubrics in red, one- and two-line initials of liquid gold against grounds alternately of dark red and blue with gold decoration, SEVENTY-SIX HISTORIATED INITIALS between three and six lines high accompanied by BORDERS INTO THREE MARGINS with divided grounds of dark pink, brown, mauve or blue with sprays of acanthus and insects, birds or grotesques and shaped fields of liquid gold with naturalistic sprays of fruit or flowers (stitching broken in 3 places with resultant small tears to 2 folios, lacking at least two leaves, outer columns with illumination cut from 2 folios, wear to opening leaf and 4 initials badly smudged, some rubbing and ink loss, back endpaper detached). 18th-century calf spine gilt in 6 compartments with red morocco lettering piece, other panels profusely decorated with flower, fern and star tools, gilt edges (worn). Wooden box. PROVENANCE: 1. Bertrand de Chalenon, Bishop of Rodez (1457-1495, d. 24.10.1501): his arms, or and gules quarterly a bordure sable semé de lis or , with a bishop's crosier behind, on f.1. Bertrand de Chalenon furnished the choir of Rodez Cathedral with richly carved choirstalls and screen, and completed the building of the nave that had been started by his uncle and predecessor Guillaume de la Tour d'Oliergues. He ceded the bishopric in 1495 but was appointed perpetual administrator of the episcopate in 1497: Gallia Christiana , i, pp.226-227. 2. Louis de Rochebaron: his signature in a 16th-century hand on ff.325v and 510v CONTENTS: Breviary according to the use of Rome: Temporal from 1st Sunday in Advent ff.1-205; Calendar ff.205v-217; Ferial Psalter ff.218-297v (lacking Psalm I); Common of Saints ff.298-326; Office of the Virgin ff.326-335v; Office of the Dead ff.335v-338v; Sanctoral from Feast of St Saturninus ff.339-505; Feast of Dedication of a Church ff.505v-507v; Feast of the Relics of the Church of Rodez ff.508-510v; prayers to St Antony added in Louis de Rochebaron's hand f.512 ILLUMINATION: Throughout the Breviary the borders are painted in a uniformly luxuriant and accomplished manner. The initials, however, were historiated by two artists. The first illuminator was responsible for those up to and including the two Apostles on f.434v. His figures have simple contours, the faces are quite heavily shaded and are sometimes shown with a minimum of modelling, but liquid gold hatching highlights and enlivens drapery, hair and furnishings, and backgrounds are frequently patterned with groups of gold dots. From f.438v, with the initial of the Virgin and Child, there is a change of hand and all the subsequent initial infills are painted by a skilful illuminator working in a style very like a miniaturised version of Jean Bourdichon's; figures are subtly modelled and individualised and bodies are convincingly articulated and set in space. It seems probable that the manuscript was illuminated in Tours. The historiated initials with half-length figures of saints etc. are as follows: f.1 Cleric at a lectern; f.25v Nativity; f.29 Apostle; f.31v St John the Evangelist; f.33v Massacre of the Innocents; f.36 St Thomas Martyr; f.45 Adoration of the Magi; f.105 Christ preaching; f.118v Risen Christ; f.140 Ascension; f.147v Pentecost; f.159 Procession of Host; f.222 Man at Prayer; f.224v Christ blessing; f.228v Angel harping; f.235v Dove of the Holy Spirit; f.237 Christ blessing; f.240 David; f.249 David; f.256 Fool; f.273 Tubalcain; f.281 Choir; f.291 Christ b