Anonymous northern French artist
Book of Hours, use of Troyes, in French and Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Troyes, late 15th century]
A charming Book of Hours from Troyes.

169 x 115mm. i + 115 leaves, collation: 1-2⁶, 3⁸, 4⁷ (of 8, lacking i), 5-8⁸, 92, 10⁷ (of 8, lacking i), 11⁶, 12⁷ (of 8, lacking i), 13-26⁸, 272, vertical catchwords survive, 17 lines, ruled space: 113 x 70mm, rubrics in red, illuminated initials and line-fillers throughout, 8 small miniatures with three-quarter illuminated borders and 3 large miniatures within full borders (lacking 3 leaves with miniatures after ff.20, 61 and 74, outer margins a little cropped, a few minor stains). 18th-century olive morocco gilt (spine restored).

Content:
Calendar ff.1-12v; Gospel extracts ff.13-17v; Hours of the Cross ff.18-20v; Hours of the Holy Spirit ff.21-22v (lacking opening); Hours of the Virgin, use of Troyes, ff.23-61: matins f.23, lauds f.31v, prime f.39v, terce f.44, sext f.47, none f.49v, vespers f.52v, compline f.57v; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.62-74v (lacking opening); Office of the Dead, use of Troyes, ff.75- 109 (lacking opening); Obsecro te (in the masculine) and O intemerata ff.109v-114v; prayers to the Virgin ff.114v-115v.

Illumination:
The style of illumination in this richly-decorated Book of Hours is characteristic of manuscripts made for wealthy patrons in Paris at the turn of the century. However the liturgical uses and proliferation of local saints in the calendar point to this having been a local production from Troyes. The figures with their heavy-lidded eyes and wispy golden hair find strong parallels in those by one of the artists in the Heures La Salle, a Book of Hours for the use of Reims. For illumination in Champagne, see F. Avril, M. Hermant and F. Bibolet, Très riches heures de Champagne, exhibition catalogue, Châlons, Troyes and Rheims, 2007-2008, esp. no 47.

The subjects of the miniatures are as follows: St John on Patmos f.13; Crucifixion f.18; Annunciation f.23; Visitation f.31v; Nativity f.39v; Annuciation to the Shepherds f.44; Adoration of the Magi f.47; Presentation in the Temple f.49v; Flight into Egypt f.52v; Coronation of the Virgin f.57v; Virgin and Child on the crescent moon f.109v.

(1) The liturgical use and the Saints in the Calendar (St Savinian, 3rd-century martyr of Troyes, on 24 January; St Mastidia of Troyes on 7 May; St Lupus, bishop of Troyes, on 29 July; as well as St Frobert, St Savine, St Aventin, St Victo, St Prudentius, St Fidolus, St Syra of Troyes, St Memorius, St Tanca of Troyes and St Aderal) firmly localise the manuscript to Troyes.

(2) A 17th-century engraving of Ecce Homo pasted upside down on paper endleaf, signed 'Leodii I. Waldor fecit', ie the Liège printmaker and publisher Jean Valdor the Younger, active in Rome in 1639-40 and in Paris from c.1643-71 as 'calcographe du roi'.

(3) In Britain by the 19th century: old price of 3 guineas on f.1 and label of William Brown, bookseller in Edinburgh, on inside upper board.

(3) Sotheby's, 5 December 1995, lot 47.

No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
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