Beschreibung:

Circle of Juan de Carrión (fl.1470s) The Ascension, leaf from an Antiphonal, Spain, c.1475 THE ASCENSION, historiated initial 'V' on a leaf from a gargantuan Antiphonal, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Spain, probably Toledo, c.1475-80] A truly gargantuan Spanish choirbook leaf, illuminated by a Toledan artist strongly influenced by Flemish manuscripts of the period. c.750 x 490mm. Historiated initial 'V' with the Ascension opening the antiphon 'Viri Galilaei' to be sung at Lauds on the Feast of the Ascension, 5 lines of text and music on a red stave, rubric in red, contemporary foliation 'clxvii' (somewhat soiled and cockled at edges, some fading and losses of pigment to the miniature, especially to the blue of the robes and some faces, burnished gold a little rubbed). Double-sided mount. Provenance: Alexander E. Vida, by descent. Illumination: The figures with their hooded eyelids and the highly stylised landscape finds strong parallels in a Book of Hours illuminated by Juan de Carrión of Toledo (London, British Library Add MS 50004 and Berlin, Kuperstichkabinett, Ms. 78 A 26), an artist who was responsible for the decoration of six choir books at Avila, bearing the arms of Alfonso Carrilo, Bishop of Avila (1498-1514). The artist of the present miniature reveals a striking familiarity with the Flemish landscapes of artists in the circle of Willem Vrelant of Bruges, testifying to the increasing cross-cultural influence of Flanders on Spanish manuscript production in the second half of the 15th century (see F. Villaseñor Sebastián, 'Between Flanders and Castille. Juan de Carrión illuminator of the Monarchy', Livros de Horas o imaginário da Devoção Privada, 2015, pp. 265-278).