SAVOYARD ARTIST

King David in Prayer.

      Southern France, circa 1475 Arched miniature depicting King David kneeling in prayer, 91 x 65mm., set in elaborate illuminated border on three sides; 4-line illuminated initial D (of "Domine" - O Lord), eight lines of gothic text on recto; minor sealed marginal tear upper right, otherwise fine, framed. A superb miniature of King David from a French Book of Hours. The miniature of David, with his harp, kneeling in prayer, introduces the opening of the Seven Penitential Psalms. Traditionally David was identified as the author of the psalms, and also as a model of penitence. After his commission of the dual crimes of adultery, with Bathsheba, and the murder of her husband Uriah, by sending him to be killed in battle, David was rebuked by the prophet Nathan and reprimanded by God. He repented and withdrew to live in exile, devoting himself to prayer.

The quality of this miniature is very fine; the king's face, drapery and the naturalistic landscape in which he kneels are all delicately rendered. The intense colours, differentiated landscape, and the elaborate border decoration of acanthus and gold leaves and flowers on swirling hairline stems all point to an artist in southern France.