Beschreibung:

BOOK OF HOURS, use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Paris, c.1470 and first quarter 15th century
BOOK OF HOURS, use of Paris, in Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Paris, c.1470 and first quarter 15th century] A Book of Hours from the workshop of the Maître François (fl. 1460-80), purportedly once owned by Marie Antoinette. PROVENANCE: (1) The presence of the feminine famule tue in the Obsecro te makes it likely this manuscript was made for a female owner. (2) An illuminated engraving by Jean de Courbes (1592-1641) – perhaps taken from a printed Book of Hours and added later as a title-page for the present manuscript, which it now erroneously introduces as ‘Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis Ad Usum Romanum’ – bears the arms of the King of France and Navarre, as well as an ‘L’ beneath a crown and the monogram ?‘BRAFS’. It has the date '1673' added. (3) A ?19th-century ownership inscription at base ‘M ?Serthy le R. DC.’ at the base of the title-page. (4) A 19th-century French inscription to a flyleaf suggests that the manuscript was found amongst the books of Marie Antoinette ‘après sa mort tragique’. (4) MAURICE BURRUS, no 15. Purchased from Rossignol in 1935. CONTENT: Illuminated engraved title-page iv; Calendar ff.1-12; Gospel extracts ff. 13-18; Passion according to John and related prayers ff.19-46 (these a post-1500 insertion); Obsectro te , in the feminine ff.47-50; O intemerata ff.51-53; blank f.54; Hours of the Virgin ff.55-115; blank f.116; Penitential Psalms ff.117-129; Litany ff.130-133; Short Hours of the Cross ff.134-140; Hours of the Holy Spirit ff.138-140; Office of the Dead ff.141-171; 15 Joys of the Virgin, in French f.172-177; Seven requests to our Lord ff.178-180; Suffrages and prayers ff. 181-194. Apparently commissioned for a female patron, the personal customisation of these workshop Hours is seen in the addition of John’s account of the Passion and female-specific prayers, including the Stabat Mater , at least 30 years later. The subjects of the large miniatures are as follows: John on Patmos f.13; Annunciation f.55; Visitation f.78; Nativity f.90; Annunciation to the shepherds f.96; Adoration of the magi f.100; Presentation in the temple f.104; Flight into Egypt f.108; Coronation of the Virgin f.111; David in Prayer f.117; Crucifixion f.134; Pentecost f.138; Funeral Mass f.141; Pieta f.172; Trinity f.178; Mass of St Gregory f.192. The subjects of the small miniatures are as follows: Luke writing his gospel f.14v; Matthew and the angel f.16; Mark writing his gospel f.17v; Betrayal of Christ f.19; Pieta f.32v; Annunciation f.35v; Virgin and Child f.47; Virgin and angels f.51; St Michael f.181. PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION AND CONDITION: 145 x 105mm. vii + 194 + iii, apparently COMPLETE (28 ff. inserted during a later rebinding), ruled space: 83 x 55mm. SIXTEEN LARGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURES with full borders, nine small panel miniatures (cropping affecting the borders and certain of the arch-topped miniatures). Parisian c.1620 brown morocco gilt (lacking clasps, wear to edges). Slipcase.