BOOK OF HOURS.

Illuminated manuscript Book of Hours on vellum, use of Rome, in Latin.

      Northern France, 1500-1510. 8vo, 125 leaves, 176 mm x 116 mm (6 15/16 inches x 4 9/16 inches). Complete, 1-2(6) 3-9(8) 10(6) 11-15(8) 16(9) 17(2), 21 lines written in littera gotica-antiqua in dark brown ink between 2 vertical and 22 horizontal lines ruled in dark pink, justification: 107 mm x 63 mm, calendar in blue, red and brown ink, rubrics in blue, capitals washed with yellow, one-line initials in liquid gold on rounds of light red, dark red or blue, similar line fillers including twigged branches in liquid gold, two- and three-line initials in white and mauve on liquid gold grounds infilled with sprigs of coloured flowers or fruit, 29 full borders most consisting of sprays of flowers or fruit and blue-and-gold scrolling acanthus on grounds of liquid gold or natural vellum, some inhabited by birds and grotesques, others with parti-colored divided or broadly scrolling grounds, 13 LARGE MINIATURES, 16 SMALL MINIATURES (slight abrasion or flaking to a few miniatures, minor dampstain to the upper corner of the last 6 leaves). 18th-century French red morocco antique plain-style, lettered in gilt, gilt edges, generally in very good condition. This charming and well preserved manuscript contains twenty-nine miniatures within decorated borders that include leaves and flowers, birds, butterflies, imaginary beasts, frogs and snails. All are elaborately painted on a rich gold base. The manuscript is written in a strong clear hand on very fine creamy white vellum and contains innumerable initials large and small illuminated in gold on red and blue bases with elaborate decorations. Also there are numerous line-ending illuminations and ornaments. PROVENANCE. Christie's, 2 June 1999, lot 41 (Windle -- no prior provenance given) -- Richard Estes. Contents Calendar, fols. 1r-12v; Gospel sequences, fols. 13r-17r; "Obsecro te" in masculine form, fols. 17v-20; "O intemerata" in masculine form, fols. 20r-21v; Hours of the Virgin, use of Rome, fols. 22r-68v; matins, fols. 22r-29r; lauds, fols. 29v-37r; prime, fols. 37v-40v; terce, fols. 41r-43v; sext, fols. 44r-46v; none, fols. 47r-49v; vespers, fols. 50r-54v; compline, fols. 55r-68v; Hours of the Cross, fols. 69r-71r; fol. 71v blank; Hours of the Holy Spirit, fols. 72r-74r, fol. 74v blank; Penitential psalms and Litany, fols. 75r-89v; Office of the Dead, fols. 90r-120r; Suffrages, fols. 120r-125v (including the Holy Trinity and Saints Michael, John the Baptist, John the Evangelist, Peter and Paul, Sebastian, Nicholas, Anthony, Anne, Mary Magdalene, Catherine, and Barbara). ILLUMINATION. The illustration and decoration of this manuscript show the influence of the artist known as the Master of Petrarch's Triumphs. The composition of a number of the miniatures corresponds to the works by the Master and his circle, and the scene which depicts Bathsheba standing naked, not in a fountain, but in a small pond set in a green lawn is especially close to Pierpont Morgan Library, M.618, attributed by John Plummer to the Master himself (The Last Flowering, New York, 1982, p. 117). The gigantic shepherd shown in the miniature for terce is, however, closely related to the one in M.338, by a follower of Jean Poyet (The Last Flowering, p. 115). The subjects of the miniatures are: Fol. 13r, St. John on Patmos; Fol. 14r, St. Matthew with an angel (small miniature) [prefacing the text of Luke]; Fol. 15r, St. Luke with an ox (small miniature) [prefacing the text of Matthew]; Fol. 16v, St. Mark with a lion (small miniature); Fol. 17v, The Virgin and Child in glory (small miniature); Fol. 20r, Pietà (small miniature); Fol. 22r, Annunciation; Fol. 29v, Visitation; Fol. 37v, Nativity ; Fol. 41r, Annunciation to the Shepherds; Fol. 44r, Adoration of the Magi; Fol. 47r, Presentation in the Temple; Fol. 50r, Flight into Egypt; Fol. 55r, Coronation of the Virgin; Fol. 69r, Crucifixion; Fol. 72r, Pentecost; Fol. 75r, Bathsheba bathing nude in a small pond, observed by David; Fol. 90r, Job on the dungheap; Fol. 120r, Trinity (small miniature); Fol. 120v, St. Michael (small miniature); Fol. 121r, St. John the Baptist (small miniature); Fol. 121v, St. John the Evangelist (small miniature); Fol. 122r, St. Sebastian (small miniature); Fol. 122v, St. Nicholas (small miniature); Fol. 123r, St. Anthony (small miniature); Fol. 123v, St. Anne (small miniature); Fol. 124r, St. Mary Magdalene (small miniature); Fol. 124v, St. Catherine (small miniature); Fol. 125r, St. Barbara (small miniature).