Beschreibung:

Follower of MARTINO DI BARTOLOMMEO. Saints Philip and James. Large historiated initial "T" cut from an antiphonal on vellum. [Lucca, c. 1400]. 182 x 175mm. (7 1/8 x 6 7/8in.), cut squarely along black frame of initial at top and right, through illuminated border bottom and left, burnished gold ground surrounding the initial in orange with white penwork tracery, the two saints depicted standing, three-quarter length, one with book, the other with staff and book, below and to the left portions of a leafy border with grotesque bird and leaping hare, on verso text in a large rounded gothic hand, square neumes on 4-line red staves, blue initial with red penwork tracery; borders cropped, 2 pinholes, slight rubbing and flaking, matted and framed. The initial probably introduces the antiphon "Tanto tempore" from Vespers for the feast of Saints Philip and James (May 1); on the verso the word "Laudate" presumably introduces the psalm "Laudate pueri" used for the same feast. This miniature and the preceding, lot 71, 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. R 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.