THREE HISTORIATED INITIALS AND ONE ILLUMINATED INITIAL on six leaves from an illuminated Bible [Paris, c.1280-90]

Exquisite leaves from a large thirteenth-century Bible representing the pinnacle of Parisian atelierwork. The style of the historiated initials is that of the Sainte-Chapelle group, named for a gospel lectionary made c.1260-70 and used in the Sainte-Chapelle (now at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS lat. 17326). In previous discussions the style has been taken to correspond more closely with the 'Henry VIII' sub-group, active slightly later in the grouping, making a date for the present leaves of c.1280-90 most plausible.

The subjects of the historiated initials are: David in the waters calling for God to save him; St John holding a scroll (also with an illuminated initial on this leaf); and St Peter holding a key.

Provenance:
The incomplete manuscript of 519 leaves was sold at Sotheby's, 5 December 1989, lot 79, containing five historiated initials. The present leaves comprise a gathering of four leaves and two singletons extracted from this manuscript, with a historiated initial on each of the singletons and another historiated initial on f.2 of the gathering.

Measurements:
300 x 210mm.

Bibliography:
Robert Branner, Manuscript painting in Paris during the reign of Saint Louis, 1977, pp. 236-9.

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