Beschreibung:

GENEALOGICAL CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND TO EDWARD IV; and PETER OF POITIERS (c.1130-1215), Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi ; CHART OF EMPERORS AND POPES; in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
GENEALOGICAL CHRONICLE OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND TO EDWARD IV; and PETER OF POITIERS (c.1130-1215), Compendium historiae in genealogia Christi ; CHART OF EMPERORS AND POPES; in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [?London, 1460s] 1122.25 x 32cm (36'6" x 12½"). 13 membranes, written in brown ink in an anglicana hand, headings in red, text capitals touched yellow, numerous blue initials fourished in red, three large initials with staves of burnished gold on divided grounds of pink and blue, family tree with yellow, green and red bands linking numerous roundels containing names, many on a yellow ground, about 80 roundels containing crowns, about 160 ROUNDELS WITH BUST-LENGTH KINGS AND QUEENS in full colour, 14 LARGER ROUNDELS OF BUST-LENGTH KINGS in full colour in frames of burnished gold linked by burnished gold bands, FIVE TINTED DRAWINGS OF FULL-LENGTH FIGURES IN MANDORLAS, one roundel of the monogram of Jesus, THREE ROUNDELS WITH TINTED DRAWINGS; Genealogia Christi with red and blue bands linking numerous yellow roundels with names, NINE ROUNDELS WITH TINTED DRAWINGS; names of emperors and popes ringed and linked in red (section missing from end of first membrane, outer surface of first membrane worn, especially at beginning, rendering some text and first roundel illegible). Blue cloth box. PROVENANCE: 1. The text and illumination of the roll suggest that it was made in London after the accession of Edward IV in 1461. 2. Cutting from sale catalogue in English and card of Philip Duchnes in box. CONTENT: Genealogical Chronicle of the Kings of England, from Adam to Edward IV , opening 'Temporum summam lineamque descendentem...', and ending 'Et tunc dominus Ricardus dux Ebor. regens nationem francie', inner surface of roll; Peter of Poitiers, Compendium in genealogia Christi , followed by Emperors from ancient Rome with, from the Christian era, the Popes elected during their reigns, outer surface of roll. A contemporary chronicler credited the composition of the Genelogia Christi to Peter of Poitiers, chancellor of the University of Paris from 1193 to 1205: 'mindful of poor clerics [he] invented historical trees of the Old Testament which were painted on skins'. Biblical history was made accessible and easily comprehensible by being reduced to its essentials and laid out like a family tree that culminated in the advent and life of Christ. Probably originally designed as a teaching aid, it achieved great popularity, and copies of these illustrated rolls were made through the 13th to 15th centuries. The genealogical chronicle of the kings of England can be added to the three rolls, related in text and decoration, known as the Temporum group from their defining opening words. The previously identified members of the group are in the Huntington Library, San Marino, HM 264, in the Harvard College Library, bMS Typ 40, and in Trinity College, Cambridge, England, Ms R.4.52, see K. Scott, Later Gothic Manuscripts 1390-1490 , 1996, II, pp.313-4. These three are all illustrated with tinted drawings whereas the present lot combines tinted drawings for the full-length figures and the narrative scenes with full opaque colouring for the bust-length figures. These are executed with bold areas of colour and swift black lines. The tinted drawings are by a more subtle and accomplished artist; they are work of high quality, combining elegance and liveliness of line. This roll is of unusual luxury with its use of burnished gold for the opening initials and for the frames around all the kings from William the Conqueror onwards -- those from William Rufus also have gold crowns. The civil war between rival claimants to the throne, known as the Wars of the Roses, had stimulated interest in royal genealogy; celebrating the legitimacy of Edward IV through a roll chronicle could have been a significant statement of allegiance. The roll must postdate his accession in 1461, although the latest event in the text is the marriage of Henry VI and Margar