Details
Robert Burns's "Scots Wha Hae..."
Alberto Sangorski, 1931-1932
SANGORSKI, Alberto (1862-1932), calligrapher and illuminator. BURNS, Robert (1759-1796). “Scots Wha Hae and other poems.” [London, 1931-1932.]
Alberto Sangorski’s last illuminated manuscript: in size and quality it culminates his life’s work. Twelve poems by the Scottish bard are sumptuously engrossed, including the title poem and: "John Anderson, My Jo," "To Mary in Heaven," "There was a Lad was Born in Kyle," "Ye Banks and Brass O' Bonnie Doon," "Ae Fond Kiss," "Auld Lang Syne," "My Luv is like a Red Red Rose," "Verses on the Destruction of Drumlanrig Woods," "To a Mountain Daisy," "A Winter Night," and "Tam O'Shanter." Included with the manuscript is the original typed description from Marshall Field in Chicago accurately describing it as “very beautiful and fine … magnificently engrossed … with handsome ornamentation [which is] extremely effective.” The calligraphed certification leaf at the end reads: "This manuscript: Scots Wha Hae and other poems by Robert Poems was Designed, Written out and Illuminated by Alberto Sangorski.” This leaf further endorsed by the artist’s daughter: "This is my father's last work. He died suddenly on November 13, 1932. Marie Sangorski." It is a brilliant manuscript, worthy of being the capstone to an unparalleled career.
Quarto (294 x 222mm). Illuminated manuscript on vellum, 23 leaves, plus 3 blank vellum leaves, mounted on guards. Pictorial title in colors and gilt incorporating a portrait of Robert the Bruce in a border of tooled gilt and thistles, verso with the Scottish arms; full-page frontispiece portrait of Robert Burns also in a gold-ground thistle border, device on verso with the poet’s monogram and three quills; the text on pp. 5-44 incorporating 16 additional miniatures for a TOTAL OF 18 MINIATURES, these include six further full-page miniatures depicting the moonlit parting with Clarinda; the lover “like a red, red rose;” a shepherd in a snowstorm, Tam on horseback with lighting storm and 5 lines of verse, Tam dancing with pixies and 2 lines of verse, and Tam fleeing the witch in the cutty-sark, and smaller landscapes and scenes as border miniatures; the borders are richly illuminated with gold, tooled gold and colors, including striking decorations such as an owl, bat, satyr, skull, birds, devils, etc.; cream silk guards (fraying to silk); contents leaf.
Full blue morocco janseniste, spine gilt-lettered and in compartments with five raised bands, cream silk doublures and endleaves, all edges gilt, stamp-signed by Sangorski and Sutcliffe on the upper turn-in (small rub to upper cover). Full morocco gilt box, lined with blue velvet. Provenance: Lawrence F. Klarquist (invoices and receipts for installment payments dated 1936-1937 laid into box) - Sotheby’s New York. 26 June 1988, lot 332.
Details
Robert Burns's "Scots Wha Hae..."
Alberto Sangorski, 1931-1932
SANGORSKI, Alberto (1862-1932), calligrapher and illuminator. BURNS, Robert (1759-1796). “Scots Wha Hae and other poems.” [London, 1931-1932.]
Alberto Sangorski’s last illuminated manuscript: in size and quality it culminates his life’s work. Twelve poems by the Scottish bard are sumptuously engrossed, including the title poem and: "John Anderson, My Jo," "To Mary in Heaven," "There was a Lad was Born in Kyle," "Ye Banks and Brass O' Bonnie Doon," "Ae Fond Kiss," "Auld Lang Syne," "My Luv is like a Red Red Rose," "Verses on the Destruction of Drumlanrig Woods," "To a Mountain Daisy," "A Winter Night," and "Tam O'Shanter." Included with the manuscript is the original typed description from Marshall Field in Chicago accurately describing it as “very beautiful and fine … magnificently engrossed … with handsome ornamentation [which is] extremely effective.” The calligraphed certification leaf at the end reads: "This manuscript: Scots Wha Hae and other poems by Robert Poems was Designed, Written out and Illuminated by Alberto Sangorski.” This leaf further endorsed by the artist’s daughter: "This is my father's last work. He died suddenly on November 13, 1932. Marie Sangorski." It is a brilliant manuscript, worthy of being the capstone to an unparalleled career.
Quarto (294 x 222mm). Illuminated manuscript on vellum, 23 leaves, plus 3 blank vellum leaves, mounted on guards. Pictorial title in colors and gilt incorporating a portrait of Robert the Bruce in a border of tooled gilt and thistles, verso with the Scottish arms; full-page frontispiece portrait of Robert Burns also in a gold-ground thistle border, device on verso with the poet’s monogram and three quills; the text on pp. 5-44 incorporating 16 additional miniatures for a TOTAL OF 18 MINIATURES, these include six further full-page miniatures depicting the moonlit parting with Clarinda; the lover “like a red, red rose;” a shepherd in a snowstorm, Tam on horseback with lighting storm and 5 lines of verse, Tam dancing with pixies and 2 lines of verse, and Tam fleeing the witch in the cutty-sark, and smaller landscapes and scenes as border miniatures; the borders are richly illuminated with gold, tooled gold and colors, including striking decorations such as an owl, bat, satyr, skull, birds, devils, etc.; cream silk guards (fraying to silk); contents leaf.
Full blue morocco janseniste, spine gilt-lettered and in compartments with five raised bands, cream silk doublures and endleaves, all edges gilt, stamp-signed by Sangorski and Sutcliffe on the upper turn-in (small rub to upper cover). Full morocco gilt box, lined with blue velvet. Provenance: Lawrence F. Klarquist (invoices and receipts for installment payments dated 1936-1937 laid into box) - Sotheby’s New York. 26 June 1988, lot 332.
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