This Book of Hours for the Use of Paris was produced between 1460 and 1480, for a female patron whose portrait is found in two miniatures (fols. 124r and 130r). The book begins with a calendar, in French (fols. 3r-15v), followed by the Gospel Lessons (fols. 16r-20r) and Obsecro te and "Ave salus mundi" prayers (fols. 20v-23v). The Hours of the Virgin (fols. 24r-66v) is for the Use of Paris, and begins with a large miniature of the Annunciation. It is followed by the Hours of the Cross (fols. 67r-69v) and Hours of the Holy Spirit (fols. 70r-72v), introduced by miniatures of the Crucifixion and Pentecost, respectively. This is followed by the Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers (fols. 73r-86r), which begins with a miniature of King David in Prayer, and the Office of the Dead (fols. 86v-114v), which is introduced with a miniature of a Burial Scene. The book also contains a series of prayers, in French (fols. 115r-123v), "Sire je me recommande à toy...," "Sire plaise toy essautier...," "O très certaine espèrance...." The next section is the Fifteen Joys of the Virgin (fols. 124r-129v), in French, which is introduced by a miniature of the Virgin and Child showing the book's female owner. This section is followed by the Seven requests of our Lord (fols. 130r-137v), in French, introduced by a miniature of the Trinity, again with an adjacent portrait of the book's owner. Included in the same section are the French prayers, "Sainte vraye crois...," and "Je te prie dame sainte marie...." The book's final section (fols. 138r-150v), which is not introduced by a miniature, contains the prayers to the Virgin, "O très parfaicte et entière mère de dieu..." and "O très certaine esperance," followed by suffrages to Saint Sebastian and Saint Christopher, in Latin and in French. Fol. 1r contains an ownership inscription for Michelle du Deré from 1577. Fol. 1v contains an inscription by G. du Deré from 1650 stating (erroneously) that the donor portraits in the book represent his stepmother.
Support: Parchment; Extent: 154; 161 x 110 mm bound to 167 x 123 mm; Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto; Collation: 1 (4), 2 (12), 3-8 (8), 9 (3, +3), 10-15 (8), 16 (9, +9), 17-19 (8), 20 (6), 21 (2)
One column of fifteen lines; ruled in red ink; written area: 90 x 65 mm
Gothic--textualis semi-quadrata
Seven large miniatures, each surrounded by full foliate borders; three-sided foliate borders marking other section breaks; single-side foliate borders on all other pages; sixteen three-or-four-line illuminated initials; numerous smaller illuminated and colored initials throughout, some with marginal sprays
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.
Some rubrics in French
Fragment of sixteenth-century document visible under lower pastedown
Inscription on fol. 1r: "Ces heures apartiennent a damoyselle Michelle du Deré femme de Me Loys Dorleans aduocat en la court de Parlement et lesquelles luy sont echeues par la succession de feu son pere Me Jehan Duderé conseiller du roy & auditeur en sa chambre des comptes, 1577; Amour & Humilité sont les doux liens de nostre mariage."
Inscription on fol. 1v: "Ce présent livre m'a esté donné par feu monsieur d'Orléans, fils de mademoiselle d'Orléans nomée Michelle Duderé lequel estoit aveugle et qui estoit digne de cette affliction, mon cousin germain, G. Dudere 1650... les figures qui sont à genoux dans les ymages de ce livre sont de feu damoiselle Michelle de Sauslai mère de deffunct mon frère."
France
Second half 15th century
Seventeenth- or eighteenth-century gilt stamped and tooled brown calf; gilt tooled edges; traces of clasp mounts; rebacked
Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
Jean Duderé; Michelle du Deré (by descent from the former, 1577, as per inscription on fol. 1r); owned (1650, as per inscription on fol. 1v) by G. Duderé, who notes: "Les figures qui sont à genoux dans les ymages de ce livre [i. e., on fols. 122r and 128r] sont de feu damoiselle Michelle de Sauslai, mère de deffunct mon frère."; Sotheby's (London, 19 March 1888, lot 420) to Warton; Sotheby's (London, 19 March 1896, lot 412) to Tregaskis; bought at the sale of Samuel W. Pennypacker (Philadelphia, 25 April 1906, part II, lot 411, ill. in color; printed description tipped upper pastedown); acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1924 (former PMA shelf mark B3.H7 written on lower pastedown)
France
Second half 15th century
Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
Jean Duderé; Michelle du Deré by G. Duderé, who notes: "Les figures qui sont à genoux dans les ymages de ce livre [i. e., on fols. 122r and 128r] sont de feu damoiselle Michelle de Sauslai, mère de deffunct mon frère."; Sotheby's (London, 19 March 1888, lot 420) to Warton; Sotheby's (London, 19 March 1896, lot 412) to Tregaskis; bought at the sale of Samuel W. Pennypacker (Philadelphia, 25 April 1906, part II, lot 411, ill. in color; printed description tipped upper pastedown); acquired by the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1924 (former PMA shelf mark B3.H7 written on lower pastedown) (provenance)
This Book of Hours for the Use of Paris was produced between 1460 and 1480, for a female patron whose portrait is found in two miniatures (fols. 124r and 130r). The book begins with a calendar, in French (fols. 3r-15v), followed by the Gospel Lessons (fols. 16r-20r) and Obsecro te and "Ave salus mundi" prayers (fols. 20v-23v). The Hours of the Virgin (fols. 24r-66v) is for the Use of Paris, and begins with a large miniature of the Annunciation. It is followed by the Hours of the Cross (fols. 67r-69v) and Hours of the Holy Spirit (fols. 70r-72v), introduced by miniatures of the Crucifixion and Pentecost, respectively. This is followed by the Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers (fols. 73r-86r), which begins with a miniature of King David in Prayer, and the Office of the Dead (fols. 86v-114v), which is introduced with a miniature of a Burial Scene. The book also contains a series of prayers, in French (fols. 115r-123v), "Sire je me recommande à toy...," "Sire plaise toy essautier...," "O très certaine espèrance...." The next section is the Fifteen Joys of the Virgin (fols. 124r-129v), in French, which is introduced by a miniature of the Virgin and Child showing the book's female owner. This section is followed by the Seven requests of our Lord (fols. 130r-137v), in French, introduced by a miniature of the Trinity, again with an adjacent portrait of the book's owner. Included in the same section are the French prayers, "Sainte vraye crois...," and "Je te prie dame sainte marie...." The book's final section (fols. 138r-150v), which is not introduced by a miniature, contains the prayers to the Virgin, "O très parfaicte et entière mère de dieu..." and "O très certaine esperance," followed by suffrages to Saint Sebastian and Saint Christopher, in Latin and in French. Fol. 1r contains an ownership inscription for Michelle du Deré from 1577. Fol. 1v contains an inscription by G. du Deré from 1650 stating (erroneously) that the donor portraits in the book represent his stepmother.
Some rubrics in French
Fragment of sixteenth-century document visible under lower pastedown
Inscription on fol. 1r: "Ces heures apartiennent a damoyselle Michelle du Deré femme de Me Loys Dorleans aduocat en la court de Parlement et lesquelles luy sont echeues par la succession de feu son pere Me Jehan Duderé conseiller du roy & auditeur en sa chambre des comptes, 1577; Amour & Humilité sont les doux liens de nostre mariage."
Inscription on fol. 1v: "Ce présent livre m'a esté donné par feu monsieur d'Orléans, fils de mademoiselle d'Orléans nomée Michelle Duderé lequel estoit aveugle et qui estoit digne de cette affliction, mon cousin germain, G. Dudere 1650... les figures qui sont à genoux dans les ymages de ce livre sont de feu damoiselle Michelle de Sauslai mère de deffunct mon frère."
Gothic--textualis semi-quadrata
Seven large miniatures, each surrounded by full foliate borders; three-sided foliate borders marking other section breaks; single-side foliate borders on all other pages; sixteen three-or-four-line illuminated initials; numerous smaller illuminated and colored initials throughout, some with marginal sprays
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.
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