Francesco di Antonio del Chierico (1433-1484)
Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Italy, Florence, c.1470s]
A charming, complete Book of Hours by one of the most sought-after illuminators of Renaissance Florence, Francesco di Antonio del Chierico.

118 x 85mm. ii (paper) + 216 + ii (paper) leaves, complete, collation: 1¹², 2-10¹⁰, 11⁴, 12-22¹⁰, catchwords survive, 12 lines, ruled space: 62 x 42mm, rubrics in red, initials alternately in red or blue, 6 illuminated initials, 13 historiated initials, five of which within full foliate borders incorporating birds, putti, a skull and a cross (the second gathering a little loose, some light marginal dampstaining and thumbing, a few stains and smudges, margins a little cropped, generally in excellent condition). Bound in 18th-century red morocco tooled in gilt, over pasteboards, gilt edges (a little scuffed, spine a little worn). Red cloth slip-case and red quarter-morocco box gilt.

Provenance:
Sotheby's, 26 July 1920, lot 413, bought by Edwards for £37.

Contents:
Calendar ff.1-12v; Hours of the Virgin, use of Rome, ff.13-85: matins f.13, lauds f.26, prime f.49v, terce f.55, sext f.60, none f.65, vespers f.70, compline f.79v; Advent Office ff.85-96v; Office of the Dead, use of Rome, ff.97-152; Office of the Passion ff.153-183v; Hours of the Cross ff.184-186v; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.187-213; ruled blanks ff.214-216.

Illumination:
The illumination is attributable to Francesco di Antonio del Chierico, the preferred illuminator of the greatest institutional and private patrons of Florence from the 1450s until his death in 1484. Through Vespasiano da Bisticci, Francesco di Antonio came to work for princely patrons throughout Europe, including Federico da Montefeltro, Duke of Urbino, Ferdinand I, King of Naples, Louis XI of France and Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary. The most discerning commissioners of Florentine books turned to him; but it was with the de' Medici that he had an especially close relationship. From the time of Cosimo il Vecchio to Lorenzo il Magnifico he illustrated manuscripts for them, ranging from giant choirbooks to intimate and compact Books of Hours such as the present manuscript. A particularly close comparable can be found in a leaf attributed to Francesco di Antonio in Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 257d, depicting the head of Christ wearing the Crown of Thorns: we see an identical palette of soft pinks, blues and greens; the same floral margins dotted with gilt bezants; the same pudgy putti, with backs turned or legs splayed, inhabiting the borders; and the same rendering of features.

The subjects of the historiated initials are as follows: Virgin and Child f.13; two female Saints f.26; a female Saint f.49v; a female Saint f.55; a female Saint f.60; the Virgin in prayer f.65; Christ holding a book f.70; the Virgin reading f.79v; the Virgin reading f.88; a skeleton with a 'memento mori' scroll f.97; Ecce Homo f.153; Christ carrying the Cross f.184; David playing his psaltery f.187.

The illuminated initials are on ff.108, 162, 168, 170v, 176v, and 180v.