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This Book of Hours was made in Salamanca in the late fifteenth century. It was produced for a member of the Manuel de Villena family (coat-of-arms present on fol. 15r), who were the counts of Atalaya. The book contains a large number of accessory texts and unusual Offices which contribute to its great length. The book begins with a calendar (fols. 1r-12v), followed by the Hours of the Virgin for the Use of Rome (fols.15r-116v), including variant readings for Advent. Each hour is preceded by a full-page miniature displaying the habitual iconography. The following section consists of the Mass of the Virgin (fols. 117-129r), and is preceded by a full-page miniature of the Virgin and Child in an interior. Next come the unillustrated Gospel Lessons and the Passion according to John (fols. 129v-148v), which begins with a historiated initial. The Office of the Dead (fols. 151r-206r) is preceded by a full-page miniature showing the Raising of Lazarus. The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and associated prayers are preceded by a full-page miniature of King David in Prayer. The following sections of the book are more unusual, consisting of: the Athanasian Creed followed by the Hours of the Passion, Hours of the Holy Spirit, and Hours of Corpus Christi, each unillustrated (fols. 232r-262r); the Hours of the Conception of the Virgin (fols. 263r-269r), introduced by a full-page miniature of the Meeting at the Golden Gate; the Hours of the Passion (fols. 270r-321v), Hours of the Guardian Angel followed by Psalter of Saint Jerome (fols. 322r-353v), Hours of Saint Catherine (fols. 354r-368v); and Hours of Mary Magdalene (fols. 369r-422r), each unillustrated. The following section, which is a continuous textual unit (fols. 423r-455v), contains a large assortment of prayers: the Salve Sancta Facies (preceded by a full-page miniature of Saint Veronica holding the Sudarium) followed by the "Deus qui nobis samulis tuis lumine...," Obsecro te (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), "Subveniat nobis quaesumus...," "Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes dulcissima virgo...," "Iure te laudamus regina celi...," Prayers of Pope Gregory, and Suffrages. Most prayers and the suffrages are introduced by an inhabited initial. The section continues with prayers in Castilian: "Gracias te do yo sennor todo poderoso..." (introduced by an inhabited initial); "Muy dulce Ihesu...," with instructions; "Dolor y displicencia tengo...;" and "Sennor eternal dios myo..." (introduced by a small miniature of a woman in prayer before an altar). The final section (fols. 457r-467r) consists of the O intemerata (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), followed by Stabat Mater (introduced by a small miniature of the Pietà), prayer "Interveniat pro nobis quesumus...," Prayer of Saint Augustin "Domina nostra auxiliatrix...," and prayer "Quid tibi pro tantis reddam...." On the basis of the large, rotunda-style script and the broadly-painted miniatures, the book can be dated to the last quarter of the fifteenth century.
Support: Parchment; Extent: iv+471+ii; 214 x 140 mm bound to 224 x 154 mm; Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, upper right recto; Collation: 1-2 (6), 3 (2), 4-15 (8), 16 (6, +1 +2), 17 (8), 18 (6), 19-20 (8), 21 (2), 22-35 (8), 36 (7, +5), 37-46 (8), 47 (6), 48-54 (10), 55-60 (8); Signatures: Partially cropped alphanumeric signatures A through Z, possibly original, in upper right recto, beginning with "Ai" on fol. 15r; second set beginning "A1" on fol. 189r; third set begins on fol. 374r, with additional alphanumeric symbols on lower right recto, mostly trimmed
One column of fourteen lines, ruled in purple ink; written area: 123 x 78 mm
Gothic--rotunda
Thirteen full-page miniatures; two small miniatures; twenty-one inhabited initials; one historiated initial; thirty full foliate borders (including those surround full-page miniatures and those facing them); 120 three-sided foliate borders; six single-side bar borders with foliate flourishes; one strewn-flower border; illuminated initials and line endings 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.
Portion of colophon (name of scribe?) erased on fol. 467r
Possible iconographic note to miniature painter on lower margin of fol. 85v: "iesus ma dona fug en egypte"
Prayers on fols. 448v-455v and some rubrics in Castilian
Alterations to text visible on fols. 263r-263v and 429v
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.
Salamanca, Spain
Colophon stating the work was written in Salamanca on fol. 467r; last quarter of the fifteenth century
Blind-tooled brown leather; green silk bookmark
Latin; Castilian, Spanish
Manuel de Villena family (Counts of Atalaya), their coat of arms on fol. 15r (tierced per pale with arms of Aragon and Portugal); Giuseppe Caracciolo, Prince of Torella (bookplate on inside front cover); Bernard Quaritch, London (A Catalogue of Illuminated and Historical Manuscripts, 1896, no. 7); Robert Hoe (his posthumous sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, Catalogue of the library of Robert Hoe of New York, part II - A to K, 8 January 1912, lot. 2502); Alfred Chester Beatty, W.MS.97.III, apparently acquired by Dr. I. Schwartz, Vienna, February 1920, for £500 (thereafter, his sale, Sotheby's, London, The Renowned Collection of Manuscripts the Property of A. Chester Beatty, Esq., Part II, 9 May 1933, lot 55); Maggs Brothers, London; Philip S. Collins; gift of Mary Schell Collins in memory of her husband, 1945
Salamanca, Spain
Colophon stating the work was written in Salamanca on fol. 467r; last quarter of the fifteenth century
Latin; Castilian, Spanish
Manuel de Villena family
This Book of Hours was made in Salamanca in the late fifteenth century. It was produced for a member of the Manuel de Villena family (coat-of-arms present on fol. 15r), who were the counts of Atalaya. The book contains a large number of accessory texts and unusual Offices which contribute to its great length. The book begins with a calendar (fols. 1r-12v), followed by the Hours of the Virgin for the Use of Rome (fols.15r-116v), including variant readings for Advent. Each hour is preceded by a full-page miniature displaying the habitual iconography. The following section consists of the Mass of the Virgin (fols. 117-129r), and is preceded by a full-page miniature of the Virgin and Child in an interior. Next come the unillustrated Gospel Lessons and the Passion according to John (fols. 129v-148v), which begins with a historiated initial. The Office of the Dead (fols. 151r-206r) is preceded by a full-page miniature showing the Raising of Lazarus. The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and associated prayers are preceded by a full-page miniature of King David in Prayer. The following sections of the book are more unusual, consisting of: the Athanasian Creed followed by the Hours of the Passion, Hours of the Holy Spirit, and Hours of Corpus Christi, each unillustrated (fols. 232r-262r); the Hours of the Conception of the Virgin (fols. 263r-269r), introduced by a full-page miniature of the Meeting at the Golden Gate; the Hours of the Passion (fols. 270r-321v), Hours of the Guardian Angel followed by Psalter of Saint Jerome (fols. 322r-353v), Hours of Saint Catherine (fols. 354r-368v); and Hours of Mary Magdalene (fols. 369r-422r), each unillustrated. The following section, which is a continuous textual unit (fols. 423r-455v), contains a large assortment of prayers: the Salve Sancta Facies (preceded by a full-page miniature of Saint Veronica holding the Sudarium) followed by the "Deus qui nobis samulis tuis lumine...," Obsecro te (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), "Subveniat nobis quaesumus...," "Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes dulcissima virgo...," "Iure te laudamus regina celi...," Prayers of Pope Gregory, and Suffrages. Most prayers and the suffrages are introduced by an inhabited initial. The section continues with prayers in Castilian: "Gracias te do yo sennor todo poderoso..." (introduced by an inhabited initial); "Muy dulce Ihesu...," with instructions; "Dolor y displicencia tengo...;" and "Sennor eternal dios myo..." (introduced by a small miniature of a woman in prayer before an altar). The final section (fols. 457r-467r) consists of the O intemerata (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), followed by Stabat Mater (introduced by a small miniature of the Pietà), prayer "Interveniat pro nobis quesumus...," Prayer of Saint Augustin "Domina nostra auxiliatrix...," and prayer "Quid tibi pro tantis reddam...." On the basis of the large, rotunda-style script and the broadly-painted miniatures, the book can be dated to the last quarter of the fifteenth century.
Portion of colophon (name of scribe?) erased on fol. 467r
Possible iconographic note to miniature painter on lower margin of fol. 85v: "iesus ma dona fug en egypte"
Prayers on fols. 448v-455v and some rubrics in Castilian
Alterations to text visible on fols. 263r-263v and 429v
Gothic--rotunda
Thirteen full-page miniatures; two small miniatures; twenty-one inhabited initials; one historiated initial; thirty full foliate borders (including those surround full-page miniatures and those facing them); 120 three-sided foliate borders; six single-side bar borders with foliate flourishes; one strewn-flower border; illuminated initials and line endings 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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