c 1520-30 Elegant Book of Hours Leaf - 1520 Hours Workshop

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A single leaf from a manuscript French Book of Hours.  21 lines of Latin text written on both sides of the leaf in elegant humanist script, in dark brown ink on animal vellum.

Size: 112x64 mm – 4 3/8 x 2.5 inches

France, Paris or Tours, circa 1520-30.

1520’s Hours Workshop is now identified as Noel Bellemare and his Assistants, (previously named as the work of the “Doheny Master” or “Master of the Getty Epistles”). The workshop produced luxury work - manuscripts evidently made for women of the royal court, attested by the knotted rope of the “Cordelieres” as an emblematic frame for the leaves.  Four leaves from this manuscript were first described by Myra Orth in “An Exhibition of European Drawings and Manuscripts 1480-1880”, and cited in the J. Paul Getty Museum  Journal, vol. 16 (1988).

One two-line illuminated initial in black on gold ground with red tracery; ten illuminated one-line initials, one illuminated paraph, & eight line extenders alternating in gold on black ground and black on gold ground. A gold cord-like border outlined in black surrounds the text. 

The one-line illuminated “C” begins Psalm 7: 10-18: “Consumetur…” (The wickedness of sinners shall be brought to nought: and thou shalt direct the just: the searcher of hearts and reins is God. Just is my help from the Lord: who saveth the upright of heart. God is a just judge, strong and patient…). 

The nine lessons from Job contain moving readings from Job detailing the trials he endured in his struggle for God’s blessings. The two-line illuminated “P” begins Lesson I – Job 7:16-20: “Parce…” (Spare me, for my days are nothing. What is a man that thou shouldst magnify him? Or why dost thou set thy heart upon him?...).

Provenance: Baron Jerome Pichon (1812-96); the incomplete parent manuscript was offered in Fogg cat. 14 (1991), subsequently dispersed. Sister leaves appear in Cleveland Museum, Blackburn Collection, nrs. 69-71.

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

  • Inventory# IM-12592
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