AN ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF WITH A BEAUTIFUL MINIATURE PAINTING OF THE CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN.

TEXT FROM THE OPENING OF COMPLINE.

      Paris, ca. 1460 Single column 13 lines of text in a regular gothic book hand. Attractively matted. Rubrics in red recto featuring two very pretty three-line initials in blue or pink with white tracery on a burnished gold ground and containing scrolling ivy leaves and with the text flanked by rinceaux panel borders the verso WITH A STRIKING MINIATURE PAINTING OF THE CORONATION OF THE VIRGIN within an arched compartment and above three lines of text and a very prominent three-line initial (in the style of those on the recto) the whole surrounded by a very wide full border of swirling ivy leaves on hairline stems acanthus leaves strawberries and other vegetation. Mounting traces on the side without the miniature otherwise IN ESPECIALLY FINE CONDITION THE GOLD SPARKLING and the vellum and paint very clean fresh and bright. Our miniature focuses as it should on the Virgin who kneels full of humility at center left as an angel in white reaches over from behind to settle a crown on her head. God the Father sits on a canopied throne to the right his right arm upraised in blessing his left on the orb in his lap. In the background to the left two delightful young angels hold a very large book and behind them bright orange seraphim watch from a gallery. Everything about this miniature indicates that it comes from a lavish manuscript made for a person of considerable means. It is large for a Book of Hours leaf (especially in terms of its width) and the level of artistry is impressive as we can see for example in the amazing delicacy of the architectural filigree at the top left in the very convincing folds of the garments and in the faces which are subtle and realistic in their detail even under magnification. In terms of style our leaf is reminiscent of both the mainstream Parisian illuminator Maître François whose scenes were frequently dramatic and generally painted in bright colors as well as the Coëtivy Master (about whom see item #42 below). $8500