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Book of Hours, Use of Rouen Lewis E 126
Free Library of Philadelphia
Manuscript Overview
References
Binding Images

Abstract

This richly illuminated Book of Hours of the Use of Rouen includes fifteen full-page miniatures, most of which are framed by elaborate architectural frames painted in shell gold. The calendar contains twenty-four vignettes representing the scenes of the zodiac and the labors of the month. The unusual miniature on fol. 14v represents an allegory known as the "Procès du Paradis," with female figures in grisaille representing Ecclesia, Justice, Pity, and Wisdom flanking an angel and overseen by the Trinity. An apparently original inscription above the miniature on fol. 35v mentions "Louis King of the French," presumably a reference to Louis XII (r. 1498–1515). The arms of the first owners, a man from the Quinard of Languedoc and a woman from the Venot-de-Noisy are included on a roundel on fol. 37v. A miniature on fol. 69r shows the couple who originally owned the book in prayer before the Virgin and Child. The remaining text pages are decorated with imaginatively varied panel borders. The calendar is of the Use of Rouen, with Saint Romain appearing in gold (23 October, fol. 5v). The Litany includes local Rouen Saints Mello, Romanus, Audoen, Ausbert, Wandregisil, and Wulfran.

Physical Description

Support: Parchment; Extent: i+76+i; 160 x 112 mm bound to 166 x 121 mm; Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, lower right recto; Collation: 1 (6), 2 (5, +5), 3 (5, +5), 4 (6), 5-8 (10), 9 (6), 10 (8)

Layout

Two columns of twenty-five lines, frame ruled in red ink; written area: 116 x 75 mm

Script

Bâtarde

Decoration

Twenty-four calendar vignettes, featuring the signs of the zodiac and the labors of the months; one full-page coat-of-arms, fifteen full-page miniatures; lateral borders on every page, each different, formed of leafy sprays and baroque decorations in geometric divisions, in shell gold, grisaille, and colors, decorated and illuminated initials and line-fillers 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.

Notes

Manuscript has been severely trimmed, especially along top edge

Inscription at top of architrave on fol. 35v, apparently original, mentions Louis XII of France (erroneously mentioned in Wolf as Louis XI of Burgundy): "LVDOVICVS : REX : FRANCORVM : BONVS : OPERATVS" ; inscription on plinth on same page reads "AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINVS TECVM BENEDITV IN" (sic)

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
15th century
16th century
Miniature
Illumination
France
French
Prayer book
Private devotional text
Illustration
Free Library of Philadelphia

Place of Origin

Rouen?, France

Date

Arms of the first owners on fol. 37v (per pale, one, azure between four crescents argent a saltire engrailed or, two, gules a tower with gateway argent): coat-of-arms in a wreath, with the arms of the husband and wife impaled, identified by A. Van de Put as those of Quinard of Languedoc, and Venot-de-Noisy of Burgundy and the Lyonnais; dexter arms alternatively identified as those of the Vauquelin of Normandy by Jean-Luc Deuffic (https://sites.google.com/site/heuresbookofhours/, accessed 29 March 2017); circa 1500

Binding

Sixteenth-century light brown morocco, gilt stamp with image of the instruments of the Passion on the covers with "INRI" inscribed on the crosses; gilt edges

Language

Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)

Provenance

Members of the families of Quinard of Languedoc and Venot de Noisy of Burgundy and Lyonnais; Thomas F. Richardson, Boston (stamped on front flyleaf: "Collection of Thos. F. Richardson, Boston"); John Frederick Lewis, Philadelphia ("John F. Lewis, 1919" written in ink on front flyleaf; pencil notes also written in Lewis's hand on front flyleaf); given by his widow, Anne Baker Lewis, to the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1936

return to search Book of Hours, Use of Rouen Lewis E 126

Place of Origin

Rouen?, France

Date

Arms of the first owners on fol. 37v (per pale, one, azure between four crescents argent a saltire engrailed or, two, gules a tower with gateway argent): coat-of-arms in a wreath, with the arms of the husband and wife impaled, identified by A. Van de Put as those of Quinard of Languedoc, and Venot-de-Noisy of Burgundy and the Lyonnais; dexter arms alternatively identified as those of the Vauquelin of Normandy by Jean-Luc Deuffic (https://sites.google.com/site/heuresbookofhours/, accessed 29 March 2017); circa 1500

Language

Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)

Provenance

Members of the families of Quinard of Languedoc and Venot de Noisy of Burgundy and Lyonnais; Thomas F. Richardson, Boston

Manuscript Overview

Abstract

This richly illuminated Book of Hours of the Use of Rouen includes fifteen full-page miniatures, most of which are framed by elaborate architectural frames painted in shell gold. The calendar contains twenty-four vignettes representing the scenes of the zodiac and the labors of the month. The unusual miniature on fol. 14v represents an allegory known as the "Procès du Paradis," with female figures in grisaille representing Ecclesia, Justice, Pity, and Wisdom flanking an angel and overseen by the Trinity. An apparently original inscription above the miniature on fol. 35v mentions "Louis King of the French," presumably a reference to Louis XII (r. 1498–1515). The arms of the first owners, a man from the Quinard of Languedoc and a woman from the Venot-de-Noisy are included on a roundel on fol. 37v. A miniature on fol. 69r shows the couple who originally owned the book in prayer before the Virgin and Child. The remaining text pages are decorated with imaginatively varied panel borders. The calendar is of the Use of Rouen, with Saint Romain appearing in gold (23 October, fol. 5v). The Litany includes local Rouen Saints Mello, Romanus, Audoen, Ausbert, Wandregisil, and Wulfran.

Notes

Manuscript has been severely trimmed, especially along top edge

Inscription at top of architrave on fol. 35v, apparently original, mentions Louis XII of France (erroneously mentioned in Wolf as Louis XI of Burgundy): "LVDOVICVS : REX : FRANCORVM : BONVS : OPERATVS" ; inscription on plinth on same page reads "AVE MARIA GRATIA PLENA DOMINVS TECVM BENEDITV IN" (sic)

Script note

Bâtarde

Decoration Note

Twenty-four calendar vignettes, featuring the signs of the zodiac and the labors of the months; one full-page coat-of-arms, fifteen full-page miniatures; lateral borders on every page, each different, formed of leafy sprays and baroque decorations in geometric divisions, in shell gold, grisaille, and colors, decorated and illuminated initials and line-fillers 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.

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
15th century
16th century
Miniature
France
French
Prayer book
Private devotional text
Illustration
Free Library of Philadelphia
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