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This Book of Hours of the Use of Paris was likely produced in Paris in the early sixteenth century. It begins with a calendar in French with four animal emblems in the margins (fols. 3r-14v). The following section is comprised of a prayer in French to the Three Truths ("les trois vérités," fol. 16v), the end of which is lacking. The majority of the Gospel Lesson according to John is missing (fol. 17r), and is followed by the passion according to John (fols. 17v-22r, end lacking, but introduced by a small miniature of the Agony in the Garden). The Hours of the Virgin follows, though it is lacking its beginning and its introductory miniature of the Annunciation. The remaining seven large miniatures depict the Visitation (fol 35r), Nativity (fol. 41v), Adoration of the Magi (fol. 45r), Presentation in the Temple (fol. 47v), Flight into Egypt (fol. 50r), Dormition (fol. 52v), and Coronation of the Virgin (fol. 56v). The Hours of the Virgin is followed by the Hours of the Cross, introduced by a large miniature of the Carrying of the Cross (fol. 60r). The subsequent Hours for this Office are each introduced on a new page. The Hours of the Holy Spirit is laid out in a similar fashion, introduced by a large miniature of the Pentecost (fol. 64r). The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers are introduced by a large miniature of David and Bathsheba with two attendants (fol. 68r). The Office of the Dead, which is followed by extensive accessory prayers and Suffrages, is introduced by a miniature showing a burial scene (fol. 80r) with the Last Judgment in the background. The Stabat Mater prayer is introduced by a small miniature (fol. 115v), as are the Suffrages to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist (fols. 117v-118r). Further prayers have been added in a bâtarde hand on folios 131r-132r. The book contains three unidentified coats-of-arms in the margins, presumably belonging to the original owner (fols. 52v, 68r and 80r).
Support: Parchment; Extent: iii+133+iii; 177 x 120 mm bound to 186 x 133 mm; Foliation: Modern foliation in pencil, recto, below lower right corner of text block; Collation: 1 (9, +1), 2 (4), 3 (8, +1 +2 +3 -4 +4 +5 +6 +7 +8), 4-17 (8), 18 (4, +1 +2 +3 +4)
One column of eighteen lines, ruled in red ink, some prickings visible: written area: 112 x 75 mm
Gothic--textualis quadrata
Eleven full-page miniatures with borders containing animals and foliage, four half-page miniatures with foliate borders, four unframed animal and floral scenes added to the margins of the calendar, 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.
Modern parchment flyleaves
Prayers on fols. 131r-132r written in Bâtarde, in a different hand
End of Three Truths prayer and beginning of Gospel Lesson according to John lacking; end of Passion according to John and beginning of Hours of the Virgin (including miniature) lacking
Saint Alexander added to calendar on 14 March (fol. 5r) in a sixteenth- or seventeenth-century hand
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.
Paris, France
Initials I, T, P, M, E, paired variously, in borders on several folios; unidentified coats-of-arms on fols. 52v, 68r and 80r; early sixteenth century
English, brown morocco, blind-stamped decoration; stamped in gold on inside front cover; matching slipcase; bound by Zaensdorf, 1900
Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
J. de Charron de Liancourt, Saint Quentin (1701) (inscription on fol. 133r); J.B. Cartier [or Courtier?] (1789) (inscription on fol. 133r); Theodore Newton Vail, late nineteenth.; sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, May 4, 1922, lot 685 (catalog clipping on fol. 133r); John Frederick Lewis, Philadelphia; given by his widow, Anne Baker Lewis, to the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1936; "J de Charron de Liancourt chanione de L'Eglise Royalle de Saint Quentin en vermandois 1701" on fol. 133r; inscribed "J.B. Carlier . . . 1789," on fol. 133r (Carlier was the curé of Bavai who died in 1818); Repeated use of the initials "P", "M", "T", "E" and "I" in various combinations, woven within love-knot design: fol. 35r, I and T; fol. 43r, I and E; fol. 45v, erased initial and T; fol. 49r, P and M; fol. 50v, P and M; fol. 54v, I E; fol. 60r, I and T, fol. 64r, I and T or A?; fol. 68r, P; fol. 80r, I and E, P and T, and I and T
Paris, France
Initials I, T, P, M, E, paired variously, in borders on several folios; unidentified coats-of-arms on fols. 52v, 68r and 80r; early sixteenth century
Latin; Middle French (ca. 1400-1600)
J. de Charron de Liancourt, Saint Quentin ; J.B. Cartier [or Courtier?] (1789) (inscription on fol. 133r); Theodore Newton Vail, late nineteenth.; sale, Anderson Galleries, New York, May 4, 1922, lot 685 (catalog clipping on fol. 133r); John Frederick Lewis, Philadelphia; given by his widow, Anne Baker Lewis, to the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1936; "J de Charron de Liancourt chanione de L'Eglise Royalle de Saint Quentin en vermandois 1701" on fol. 133r; inscribed "J.B. Carlier . . . 1789," on fol. 133r (Carlier was the curé of Bavai who died in 1818); Repeated use of the initials "P", "M", "T", "E" and "I" in various combinations, woven within love-knot design: fol. 35r, I and T; fol. 43r, I and E; fol. 45v, erased initial and T; fol. 49r, P and M; fol. 50v, P and M; fol. 54v, I E; fol. 60r, I and T, fol. 64r, I and T or A?; fol. 68r, P; fol. 80r, I and E, P and T, and I and T (provenance)
This Book of Hours of the Use of Paris was likely produced in Paris in the early sixteenth century. It begins with a calendar in French with four animal emblems in the margins (fols. 3r-14v). The following section is comprised of a prayer in French to the Three Truths ("les trois vérités," fol. 16v), the end of which is lacking. The majority of the Gospel Lesson according to John is missing (fol. 17r), and is followed by the passion according to John (fols. 17v-22r, end lacking, but introduced by a small miniature of the Agony in the Garden). The Hours of the Virgin follows, though it is lacking its beginning and its introductory miniature of the Annunciation. The remaining seven large miniatures depict the Visitation (fol 35r), Nativity (fol. 41v), Adoration of the Magi (fol. 45r), Presentation in the Temple (fol. 47v), Flight into Egypt (fol. 50r), Dormition (fol. 52v), and Coronation of the Virgin (fol. 56v). The Hours of the Virgin is followed by the Hours of the Cross, introduced by a large miniature of the Carrying of the Cross (fol. 60r). The subsequent Hours for this Office are each introduced on a new page. The Hours of the Holy Spirit is laid out in a similar fashion, introduced by a large miniature of the Pentecost (fol. 64r). The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and Prayers are introduced by a large miniature of David and Bathsheba with two attendants (fol. 68r). The Office of the Dead, which is followed by extensive accessory prayers and Suffrages, is introduced by a miniature showing a burial scene (fol. 80r) with the Last Judgment in the background. The Stabat Mater prayer is introduced by a small miniature (fol. 115v), as are the Suffrages to Saints John the Baptist and John the Evangelist (fols. 117v-118r). Further prayers have been added in a bâtarde hand on folios 131r-132r. The book contains three unidentified coats-of-arms in the margins, presumably belonging to the original owner (fols. 52v, 68r and 80r).
Modern parchment flyleaves
Prayers on fols. 131r-132r written in Bâtarde, in a different hand
End of Three Truths prayer and beginning of Gospel Lesson according to John lacking; end of Passion according to John and beginning of Hours of the Virgin (including miniature) lacking
Saint Alexander added to calendar on 14 March (fol. 5r) in a sixteenth- or seventeenth-century hand
Gothic--textualis quadrata
Eleven full-page miniatures with borders containing animals and foliage, four half-page miniatures with foliate borders, four unframed animal and floral scenes added to the margins of the calendar, 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.
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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