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Book of Hours, Use of Rome (Hours of Étienne Thirion; formerly the Champion‑Minard Hours) 1945‑65‑14
Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
Manuscript Overview
References
Binding Images

Abstract

This Book of Hours for the Use of Rome was produced in Burgundy, likely Dijon. The manuscript appears to have been produced for Étienne Thirion, receiver of the estate of Montréal (Yonne), who inscribed the book on fol. 2r and is depicted in prayer on fol. 25v. Thirion's coat-of-arms is depicted three times in the book: alone (fol. 25v), hanging from a tree alongside that of his wife (which remains unidentified) on the armorial frontispiece (fol. 3r), and impaled with those of his wife (fol. 12r). The presence on fol. 3v of an almanac for twenty years beginning in 1518 suggests a date of production on or shortly before that year. The manuscript begins with a continuously-running calendar illustrated with zodiac and labor of the month vignettes (fols. 4r-11r). The Gospel Lessons and associated texts (fols. 12r-25v) are preceded by a full-page miniature in an all'antica frame showing the martyrdom of Saint John, the composition of which is based on Albrecht Dürer's Apocalypse woodcut print from 1511. Each of the subsequent Gospel Lessons as well as the Passion According to John, the Obsecro te, and the O intemerata begin with a small square miniature. Likewise included within this section, but unillustrated, are the Prayer of Saint Augustine and further prayers to the Virgin. The Hours of the Virgin (fols. 26r-59r), which is intercalated with the Hours of the Cross and Hours of the Holy Spirit, is introduced by a large miniature of the Annunciation in an all'antica frame, which is itself faced by a portrait of the book's owner at prayer on fol. 25v. The Visitation and Carrying of the Cross are depicted in full-width miniatures, while those for the other Hours consist of smaller, inset scenes. Some of the pages with smaller miniatures are surrounded by all'antica frames or fuller foliate frames. The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers (fols. 59v-67v) are introduced by a large miniature of King David surrounded by an all'antica frame, while the Office of the Dead (fols. 69r-84r) is preceded by an unusual full-page miniature showing a group of Franciscan (?) monks and nuns and a man and woman mourning a naked dead body laid on a table (fol. 68v). The unillustrated Suffrages are followed by prayers for everyday activities (fols. 84v-93v). The Hours of the Conception of the Virgin (fols. 94r-96v) begins with a small miniature of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child in her womb. A separate section includes the Seven Prayers of Saint Gregory (fols. 97r-97v). Accessory texts (fols. 98r-105r) are introduced by a small miniature of the Virgin and Child in Glory, and include Prayers to the Virgin followed by Five Requests to God and three rhymed prayers in French. The final original section consists of Sayings of the Church Fathers and a Question and Answer about the Mass, in French (fols. 105v-106v). Finally, an added gathering in a different hand consists of Prayers for Confession and Communion in a different hand, in French (fols. 107r-111v). The miniatures are related in style to those found in the Hours of Bénigne Serre, another Burgundian official, dated to 1524 (Switzerland, Private Collection).

Physical Description

Support: Parchment; Extent: 111; 252 x 68 mm bound to 264 x 174 mm; Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto; Collation: 1-2 (2), 3-12 (6), 13 (7, +5), 14-20 (6)

Layout

One column of twenty-seven lines, frame-ruled in brown ink; written area: 155 x 92 mm

Script

Gothic--textualis

Decoration

Three full-page miniatures, seven large miniatures including a portrait of the book's owner on fol. 25v, and twelve small miniatures; twelve framed Zodiac and Labor of the Month vignettes in upper margins of calendar; eight all'antica frames with putti and other figures surrounding select miniatures; four full foliate borders; enclosed panel borders on most other text pages; three coats-of-arms; illuminated initials and line-endings throughout; decorated initials in a different style and incomplete secondary decoration on added gathering beginning at fol. 107r

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.

Notes

First leaf of first quire is upper pastedown; last leaf of last quire is lower pastedown

Rubrics on fol. 3v, fols. 90v-93v, and fols. 98r-106v in French; prayers on fols 99r-106v and 107r-111v in French

Multiple imprints of spectacles visible in inner margins between fols. 106v and 111r

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.

Spine

Fore edge

Top edge

Bottom edge

Keywords
Book of Hours
16th century
French
Illumination
France
Devotion
Notable binding
Heraldry
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs

Place of Origin

Dijon?, France

Date

Coats-of-arms of Étienne Thirion (gules, a warrior carnation/or armed with a club and a shield) and his wife (sable a cat sejant argent) on fol. 3r, identified in a seventeenth- or eighteenth-century hand, likely erroneously, as "Minard" with further notes in pencil suggesting the Champion of Auxerre or of Avalon as owners; both arms impaled on fol. 12r; portrait and coat-of-arms of Étienne Thirion on fol. 25v; 1518

Binding

Original brown stamped calf with fleur-de-lis and rampant lion stamps over wooden boards; repairs and patches along spine and filled clasp catches

Language

Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)

Provenance

Étienne Thirion (inscription in French on fol. 2r: "Iste heure pertinent Stephano Thyrion Receptore de monte regali"), receiver of the seigneury of Montréal (Yonne); Henri-Auguste Brölemann (1755-1854), Lyons (his octagonal label on lower left corner of inside front cover, "A 206"); Thierry Brölemann, Lyons, 1854; Arthur Auguste Brölemann (armorial bookplate, inside front cover; his catalogue, 1897, p. 27, no. 56); Madame Étienne Mallet (her sale, Sotheby's, London, May 4-5, 1926, lot 55; catalog clipping on fol. 1r and manuscript description on lower pastedown); Philip S. Collins; gift of Mary Schell Collins in memory of her husband, 1945

return to search Book of Hours, Use of Rome (Hours of Étienne Thirion; formerly the Champion‑Minard Hours) 1945‑65‑14

Place of Origin

Dijon?, France

Date

Coats-of-arms of Étienne Thirion (gules, a warrior carnation/or armed with a club and a shield) and his wife (sable a cat sejant argent) on fol. 3r, identified in a seventeenth- or eighteenth-century hand, likely erroneously, as "Minard" with further notes in pencil suggesting the Champion of Auxerre or of Avalon as owners; both arms impaled on fol. 12r; portrait and coat-of-arms of Étienne Thirion on fol. 25v; 1518

Language

Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)

Provenance

Étienne Thirion

Manuscript Overview

Abstract

This Book of Hours for the Use of Rome was produced in Burgundy, likely Dijon. The manuscript appears to have been produced for Étienne Thirion, receiver of the estate of Montréal (Yonne), who inscribed the book on fol. 2r and is depicted in prayer on fol. 25v. Thirion's coat-of-arms is depicted three times in the book: alone (fol. 25v), hanging from a tree alongside that of his wife (which remains unidentified) on the armorial frontispiece (fol. 3r), and impaled with those of his wife (fol. 12r). The presence on fol. 3v of an almanac for twenty years beginning in 1518 suggests a date of production on or shortly before that year. The manuscript begins with a continuously-running calendar illustrated with zodiac and labor of the month vignettes (fols. 4r-11r). The Gospel Lessons and associated texts (fols. 12r-25v) are preceded by a full-page miniature in an all'antica frame showing the martyrdom of Saint John, the composition of which is based on Albrecht Dürer's Apocalypse woodcut print from 1511. Each of the subsequent Gospel Lessons as well as the Passion According to John, the Obsecro te, and the O intemerata begin with a small square miniature. Likewise included within this section, but unillustrated, are the Prayer of Saint Augustine and further prayers to the Virgin. The Hours of the Virgin (fols. 26r-59r), which is intercalated with the Hours of the Cross and Hours of the Holy Spirit, is introduced by a large miniature of the Annunciation in an all'antica frame, which is itself faced by a portrait of the book's owner at prayer on fol. 25v. The Visitation and Carrying of the Cross are depicted in full-width miniatures, while those for the other Hours consist of smaller, inset scenes. Some of the pages with smaller miniatures are surrounded by all'antica frames or fuller foliate frames. The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers (fols. 59v-67v) are introduced by a large miniature of King David surrounded by an all'antica frame, while the Office of the Dead (fols. 69r-84r) is preceded by an unusual full-page miniature showing a group of Franciscan (?) monks and nuns and a man and woman mourning a naked dead body laid on a table (fol. 68v). The unillustrated Suffrages are followed by prayers for everyday activities (fols. 84v-93v). The Hours of the Conception of the Virgin (fols. 94r-96v) begins with a small miniature of Saint Anne with the Virgin and Child in her womb. A separate section includes the Seven Prayers of Saint Gregory (fols. 97r-97v). Accessory texts (fols. 98r-105r) are introduced by a small miniature of the Virgin and Child in Glory, and include Prayers to the Virgin followed by Five Requests to God and three rhymed prayers in French. The final original section consists of Sayings of the Church Fathers and a Question and Answer about the Mass, in French (fols. 105v-106v). Finally, an added gathering in a different hand consists of Prayers for Confession and Communion in a different hand, in French (fols. 107r-111v). The miniatures are related in style to those found in the Hours of Bénigne Serre, another Burgundian official, dated to 1524 (Switzerland, Private Collection).

Notes

First leaf of first quire is upper pastedown; last leaf of last quire is lower pastedown

Rubrics on fol. 3v, fols. 90v-93v, and fols. 98r-106v in French; prayers on fols 99r-106v and 107r-111v in French

Multiple imprints of spectacles visible in inner margins between fols. 106v and 111r

Script note

Gothic--textualis

Decoration Note

Three full-page miniatures, seven large miniatures including a portrait of the book's owner on fol. 25v, and twelve small miniatures; twelve framed Zodiac and Labor of the Month vignettes in upper margins of calendar; eight all'antica frames with putti and other figures surrounding select miniatures; four full foliate borders; enclosed panel borders on most other text pages; three coats-of-arms; illuminated initials and line-endings throughout; decorated initials in a different style and incomplete secondary decoration on added gathering beginning at fol. 107r

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.

References
Binding Images

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.

Spine

Fore edge

Top edge

Bottom edge

Keywords
Book of Hours
16th century
French
France
Devotion
Notable binding
Heraldry
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Department of Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
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