IM-10272: Original leaf from an illuminated medieval manuscript Book of Hours. 14 lines of Latin text, ruled in red with rubrics in red. Written in angular gothic bookhand on animal vellum.
France (Bourges or Chalons-sur-Marne ?), c. 1470-90.
Size: 147 x 95 mm - 5.9 x 3.8 inches
Lavishly embellished with a large miniature and an illuminated two-line initial in pink on a blue ground with an interior having a blue lion on a liquid gold ground; one illuminated two-line initial in pink on a blue ground; one one-line initial in red on a pink ground. Panel border on recto has a floral motif in blue, white, green and yellow with an owl (attribute of Christ, who sacrificed Himself to save mankind) on a deep red ground.
Miniature painting (73 x 50mm) on verso is The Deposition: Christ is shown being removed from the cross with the Virgin Mary kneeling beneath, arms outstretched to receive his body - His bloody wounds are evident. Nicodemus, on the ladder, hands Christ's body to Joseph of Arimathea who stands to the right of the Virgin Mary. Set in a landscape with tower in background. The elaborate border surrounding the miniature shows diverse floral motifs and eleven birds (including 3 owls), plus a snail on a liquid gold ground.
The two-line ''F'' begins the prayer: ''Famulorum...'' (Forgive, we beseech Thee, O Lord, the sins of Thy servants, that we, who by our own deeds are unable to please Thee, may be saved...). The two-line illuminated ''D'' begins: ''Deus...'' (Incline unto my aid O God).
Provenance: from a Book of Hours once owned by the Marquis de Courtanvaux (1718-81), and later by the American collector Henry Walton (d. 2007) - described in the Ricci Census supplement, p.518 no.A-103. It was sold at Bloomsbury NYC 04-03-2009, lot 15 and subsequently dispersed. Leaves have appeared at Reiss & Sohn and Sotheby's London. The leaf with the Courtanvaux owner's mark was removed from the parent manuscript before 1973 when it was acquired by the University of South Carolina Collection (id: Early MS67).
This is a remarkably attractive leaf with evident devotional use. There is some rubbing, particularly in the lower outer border, and a small burn at the blank lower right edge.
Shipped unmatted
