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This is a small Book of Hours for the Use of Rome produced in Northern France in the mid-fifteenth century. It contains seventeen arch-topped miniatures and one full-page miniature. The book begins with a calendar in Latin (pp. 1-24) and continues with the Gospel Lessons (pp. 25-33). The Hours of the Virgin (pp. 35-125) is introduced with by large miniature of the Annunciation and a border containing a vignette of the Virgin Mary weaving, and includes seven further large miniatures in the usual order. The Hours of the Cross (pp. 127-132) and Hours of the Holy Spirit (pp. 133-138) begin with large miniatures of the Crucifixion and Pentecost, respectively. The following section, introduced by an inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child with an angel, contains the variants of the Hours of the Virgin for Advent and Christmastide (pp. 139-161). The Penitential Psalms, litany, and prayers (pp. 163-193) are introduced by a large miniature of King David in Prayer surrounded by a foliate border inhabited by jesters, musicians, and a woman with a mirror. The Office of the Dead (pp. 195-251) is introduced by a large miniature showing the digging of a grave for a funeral. This is followed by the Credo, in French, and two prayers of the Conception, in a slightly later hand (pp. 252-254). The Obsecro te (pp. 255-265) is introduced by a large miniature of the Virgin and Child with two musical angels. Next comes a prayer in French, "O mon dieu et créateur trèspuissant..." and the Prayer to Christ on the Seven Words spoken from the Cross (pp. 265-274), followed by a rhyming prayer in French, "Ung seul dieu to créateur, tu serviras et ameras..." (pp. 275-276). The suffrages, which each begin on a new page introduced by a large miniature, are dedicated to Saints John the Evangelist (pp. 277-278), Anthony (pp. 279-280), Catherine (pp. 281-282), and Margaret (pp. 283-284). A series of prayers to the Virgin are added in a different hand at the end of the volume (pp. 284-285), followed by a miniature of Saint Adrian surrounded by the interlaced initials "I-Z," probably added circa 1480-1500. An early inscription on p. 34, in Italian, alludes to Ippolita Maria Sforza, Duchess of Calabria (either Ippolita Maria Sforza, 1446-1484, or her granddaughter of the same name, 1493-1501), while a less formal inscription on p. 262 appears to read "Votre serviteur Jeanne." The late-sixteenth-century fanfare binding indicates that the book was owned by the Parisian musical printer, Lucrèce Dugué (1544-1615).
Support: Parchment; Extent: iii+143+iii; 153 x 100 mm bound to 158 x 112 mm; Foliation: Modern pagination in pencil, upper right recto; Collation: 1-2 (6), 3 (5, +1), 4-17 (8), 18 (8, -3 -4 -5 -6 -7 -8), 19 (8, -8), 20 (5, +5)
One column of sixteen lines, ruled in purple ink; written area: 70 x 48 mm
Bâtarde
Seventeen large arched miniatures; one full-page miniature with heraldic border; one inhabited initial; one bas-de-page vignette; full foliate borders surrounding each large miniature and the first page of the Gospel Lessons; one three-sided foliate border; single-sided foliate borders on remaining pages; illuminated initials and throughout
For a full list of Decorations in this manuscript please see the Content and Decorations section by clicking on the [i] button in the top left corner of the image viewer above.
Italian inscription on p. 34, "La nostra cara sorella che ne ama più che si stessa Hippolyta Maria duchessa de Calabria"
Outline of a metallic pilgrim's badge in the shape of a portrait bust, formerly sewn to the page, visible on the left-hand side of p. 34
French inscription on p. 262, "Votre serviteur Jeanne"?
A suffrage to Saint Michael is indicated by a rubric on p. 262, but the following leaves are excised
These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.
France
Mid 15th century
Late-sixteenth-century gilt tooled brown morocco with in "LUCRECE" in upper medallion and "DU GUE" in lower medallion
Latin; Italian; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
Unidentified owner(s) with initials I-Z (in border of miniature on p. 286); Lucrèce Dugué ("LUCRECE" "DU GUE" inscribed in upper and lower medallions respectively on binding); unidentified owner with initials E.D. (bookplate on inside front cover); H.F. House, London (his posthumous sale, "Very comprehensive library of dramatic literature formed by the late H.F. House, esq.," Sotheby's, London, 21 January 1924, lot 169); Maggs bros., London, 1928 (catalog clipping on first upper flyleaf recto); Philip S. Collins (bookplate on first upper flyleaf recto); gift of Mary Schell Collins in memory of her husband, 1945
France
Mid 15th century
Latin; Italian; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
Unidentified owner
This is a small Book of Hours for the Use of Rome produced in Northern France in the mid-fifteenth century. It contains seventeen arch-topped miniatures and one full-page miniature. The book begins with a calendar in Latin (pp. 1-24) and continues with the Gospel Lessons (pp. 25-33). The Hours of the Virgin (pp. 35-125) is introduced with by large miniature of the Annunciation and a border containing a vignette of the Virgin Mary weaving, and includes seven further large miniatures in the usual order. The Hours of the Cross (pp. 127-132) and Hours of the Holy Spirit (pp. 133-138) begin with large miniatures of the Crucifixion and Pentecost, respectively. The following section, introduced by an inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child with an angel, contains the variants of the Hours of the Virgin for Advent and Christmastide (pp. 139-161). The Penitential Psalms, litany, and prayers (pp. 163-193) are introduced by a large miniature of King David in Prayer surrounded by a foliate border inhabited by jesters, musicians, and a woman with a mirror. The Office of the Dead (pp. 195-251) is introduced by a large miniature showing the digging of a grave for a funeral. This is followed by the Credo, in French, and two prayers of the Conception, in a slightly later hand (pp. 252-254). The Obsecro te (pp. 255-265) is introduced by a large miniature of the Virgin and Child with two musical angels. Next comes a prayer in French, "O mon dieu et créateur trèspuissant..." and the Prayer to Christ on the Seven Words spoken from the Cross (pp. 265-274), followed by a rhyming prayer in French, "Ung seul dieu to créateur, tu serviras et ameras..." (pp. 275-276). The suffrages, which each begin on a new page introduced by a large miniature, are dedicated to Saints John the Evangelist (pp. 277-278), Anthony (pp. 279-280), Catherine (pp. 281-282), and Margaret (pp. 283-284). A series of prayers to the Virgin are added in a different hand at the end of the volume (pp. 284-285), followed by a miniature of Saint Adrian surrounded by the interlaced initials "I-Z," probably added circa 1480-1500. An early inscription on p. 34, in Italian, alludes to Ippolita Maria Sforza, Duchess of Calabria (either Ippolita Maria Sforza, 1446-1484, or her granddaughter of the same name, 1493-1501), while a less formal inscription on p. 262 appears to read "Votre serviteur Jeanne." The late-sixteenth-century fanfare binding indicates that the book was owned by the Parisian musical printer, Lucrèce Dugué (1544-1615).
Italian inscription on p. 34, "La nostra cara sorella che ne ama più che si stessa Hippolyta Maria duchessa de Calabria"
Outline of a metallic pilgrim's badge in the shape of a portrait bust, formerly sewn to the page, visible on the left-hand side of p. 34
French inscription on p. 262, "Votre serviteur Jeanne"?
A suffrage to Saint Michael is indicated by a rubric on p. 262, but the following leaves are excised
Bâtarde
Seventeen large arched miniatures; one full-page miniature with heraldic border; one inhabited initial; one bas-de-page vignette; full foliate borders surrounding each large miniature and the first page of the Gospel Lessons; one three-sided foliate border; single-sided foliate borders on remaining pages; illuminated initials and throughout
For a full list of Decorations in this manuscript please see the Content and Decorations section by clicking on the [i] button in the top left corner of the image viewer above.
These are pages that we pulled aside that disrupted the flow of the manuscript reader. These may be bindings, inserts, bookmarks, and various other oddities.
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