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THE LIBANORI BREVIARY, use of Rome, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM
THE LIBANORI BREVIARY, use of Rome, in Latin, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [Ferrara, c.1475-90]247 x 177mm. 422 leaves (the last blank), with later flyleaves, including a bifolium around the first gathering, COMPLETE: 1 6 , 2-18 1 0 , 19 2 , 20 8 , 21-25 1 0 , 26 8 , 27-40 1 0 , catchwords in lower margins of final versos, 34 lines written in a fine gothic liturgical hand in dark brown ink in two columns between two verticals and 35 horizontals ruled in pale ink, justification: 152 x 106mm, rubrics in red, versal capitals in alternating burnished gold and blue, DECORATED INITIALS THROUGHOUT, two-line initials in alternating burnished gold and blue against elaborate grounds of alternating blue and red filigree penwork extending into margins, with EIGHTY-THREE LARGE ILLUMINATED INITIALS in pink, green, blue and red on grounds of burnished gold with floral designs, occasionally with elaborate gold filigree extensions, TWENTY-FOUR HISTORIATED INITIALS from four to eleven lines high, usually accompanied by full-length bar borders sprouting panels of elaborate gold filigree enclosing painted flowers in upper and lower margins, FOUR FULL-PAGE ILLUMINATED AND HISTORIATED BORDERS OF GOLDEN FILIGREE containing medallions with saints, angels, birds and other animals (slight rubbing to edges of the first two borders, a few creases, occasional wear). CONTEMPORARY GILT-STAMPED BINDING of brown goatskin over wooden boards with outer arabesque border and roundel of interlace set in an extended diamond on a field of interlace, gilt edges, traces of gilding (rebacked with original spine laid down, a few small small repairs, endleaves replaced, clasps lacking). Dark green solander box. PROVENANCE: 1. The Breviary appears to have been destined for an Augustinian house, perhaps in the diocese of Padua. There are Masses for St Augustine (f.345), his octave, and Translations (ff.368 and 267), along with an additional mass after the end of the Sanctorale for the Vigil of St Nicholas of Tolentino (f.384), and for his canonization (f.388), and for St William of Malavalle (f.390). St Augustine is also the only saint given a capital letter in the Litany (f.80). The calendar includes numerous Paduan saints, as well as the Dedication of Padua Cathedral (24 April). On f.276v St George's mass begins 'Incipit officium Sancti Georgii martyris ac patroni Fer(rariensis).' This might confirm what the style of illumination suggests, that the Breviary was made at Ferrara. The arms on f.7, azure a chevron argent , with three letter 'L's or arranged 2 and 1, until now attributed to the Ferrarese Boiardo family, belong in fact to the Libanori of Ferrara (cf. Crollalanza, Dizionario storico-blasonico delle famiglie nobili e notabili italiane estinte e fiorenti , Pisa, 1886-90, vol.II). Libanoro Libanori was ducal chancellor of Ferrara in 1472, during the time of Ercole I d'Este (Duke of Ferrara from 1471-1505), and the Breviary may have been commissioned by him -- or by Martino Libanori, Bishop of Adria from 1472-1484. The Breviary cannot date from before 1472, since the Calendar also includes the Translation of St Bernardino, which took place in May that year. 2. 'Geo. A. Leavitt & Co., Auctioneers, New York' label inside upper cover. 3. Major J.R. Abbey (1894-1969): his bookplate and numbered JA.7209, bought in New York, probably from Harper, on 17 June 1963. CONTENTS: Calendar ff.1-6; Temporale, use of Rome, from Vespers on the first Saturday in Advent to the fourth Sunday in November ff.7-178; rubrics ff.179-186; Ferial Psalter, use of Rome ff.187-244; Sanctorale from the feast of St Saturninus (29 November) to that of St Katherine (25 November), followed by additional offices for SS. Nicholas of Tolentino and William of Malavalle ff.245-392; the Common of Saints and the Dedication complete with matins ff.393-412; Hours of the Virgin ff.412-416v; Office of the Dead ff.416v-419v; Benedictions ff.419v-421; ff.421v-422 ruled blank. ILLUMINATION: AN EXQUISITE E