Beschreibung:

Follower of MARTINO DI BARTOLOMMEO. Saints Peter and Paul. Large historiated initial "Q" cut from an antiphonal on vellum. [Lucca, c. 1400]. 210 x 190mm. (8 1/4 x 7 1/2in.), cut squarely through text, music and foliate border surrounding the black frame of the initial, burnished gold ground surrounding the initial in pale green on blue ground, the two saints depicted standing, three-quarter length, Paul on left with sword and book, Peter on right with key and cross, to the left and above portions of a leafy border, on verso text in a large rounded gothic hand, square neumes on 4-line red staves; border cropped, several pinholes, slight rubbing and flaking, matted and framed. The initial introduces the text "Quodcumque ligaveris," an antiphon for Lauds on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29); the verso shows portions of the antiphon "[Eg]o dico tibi [quia tu] es petrus et [super hanc petram edificabo ecclesiam meam]," for the same feast. This miniature and the following, lot 72, were evidently executed by a Lucchese follower of Martino di Bartolommeo. The same artist was responsible for three other initials purchased by James Dennistoun at Lucca in 1838 and now in the the collection of Bernard H. Breslauer (William M. Voelkle and Roger S. Wieck, The Bernard H. Breslauer Collection of Manuscript Illuminations , New York, 1992, nos. 67-69). All five cuttings come from a single manuscript antiphonal. Provenance : Charterhouse of Lucca (?) -- James Dennistoun -- inherited by his granddaughter, Mrs. Henley-Henson -- purchased by Lord Clark of Saltwood (his sale, Sotheby's London, 3 July 1984, lot 94) -- J. William Middendorf II. Laurence Kanter, Lehman Curator, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has kindly provided the attribution of this miniature.