A LOVELY ILLUMINATED MINIATURE SHOWING PENTECOST CUT FRO...

      A Fine Miniature of Pentecost PerhapsDone by the Master of Jean Rolin Himself Paris, ca. 1455-60 229 x 184 mm. (9 x 7 1/4""). In a handsome gilt wooden frame of classic design secured by double mats of off-white and light blue the miniature (glued onto wood sometime ago and) framed without any surrounding border visible. The visible side WITH A BEAUTIFULLY REALIZED DEPICTION OF PENTECOST the Virgin kneeling at the center six apostles on either side of her the Holy Dove entering a central window open to blue sky and stars bringing the light of salvation with its flight the other windows showing mere blackness the scene within a very highly detailed church interior with much visual elaboration in vaulting decoration and even brickwork the whole in an arched gold compartment. The features on some of the faces slightly faded (but still distinct and perhaps now with even greater delicacy than originally) a little paint lost on the prie-dieu and the faces of three apostles (the damage not critical or severe) otherwise in very fine condition the paint on the clothing and the architectural detail (as well as the gilt) still very fresh and bright. In many ways this is a simply wonderful miniature clearly done by an artist of the first rank. The composition is very close to one by the Master of Jean Rolin (compare Avril & Reynaud p. 44 #12) and must be derived ultimately from the same pattern-sheet. The leaf is certainly from the Master's workshop and perhaps even from his own hand. Avril & Reynaud believes that although the Master of Jean Rolin may have been of Burgundian origin he completed his artistic education in Paris probably in the workshop of the Bedford Master and then established his own atelier in Burgundy where he played a key role in the transition from the Bedford Master's style to the more modern style of Maître François by eliminating gothic elements for a veristic and thoroughly Renaissance approach. Art scholar Eleanor Spencer was the first to separate the works of our painter from those of François and the Bedford Master and to designate him the Master of Jean Rolin because of the missals he illuminated for Rolin cardinal-bishop of Autun (d. 1483). There are a number of notable things to be said about the present memorable scene. To begin with the central iconographic image is unusual: the Virgin is kneeling at her prie-dieu. This image is typical for depictions of the Annunciation but in the usual Pentecost design she is generally seated. In another echo of typical Annunciation scenes our Lady crosses her hands here in obedient acceptance of her fate. From a bibliophilic perspective it is noteworthy that on the slanted ledge of the prayer stand before her we can see two books (one obviously devotional as it is bound in blue velvet the other less clearly a prayer book as it is in pigskin); there is also a book opened on a stool at the very forefront of the scene and there surely must be at least one book on the ledge of the prie-dieu that faces Mary out of our view. The artist has made what appear to be conscious and clever decisions about color in our miniature particularly in connection with garments as he has clothed all of the major figures in dark and/or light blue. Behind the central Virgin stands John her adopted son whose gown is the same light teal color as her own while Peter's cobalt blue tunic echoes her cloak and is picked up by the figure on the right with the longer pointed beard who is probably Peter's brother Andrew. (It is also undoubtedly no mistake that the Holy Dove descends from a sky that is both dark and light blue.) The more generalized figures in the scene are dressed in green or brown. The Virgin and John the Evangelist are given very youthful and delicate faces with tiny chins and retroussé noses while Peter kneeling at the front right has more the air of a sturdy peasant. The details of the garments the faces and the architecture of the church interior are all very impressive. See Avril & Reynaud (pp. 38-45 and accompanying illustrations) for an extended discussion of our painter. $8500