St. Ursula, large historiated initial on a single leaf from an illuminated manuscript antiphoner, in Latin, on vellum

single leaf, 485mm. by 375mm., 6 lines of text in black ink in a fine rounded late Gothic hand, with music on 4-line red stave, rubrics in red, two small initials in red or blue with penwork to contrast, large historiated initial 'D' (apparently opening "Debonoto fuit nata ..." perhaps in error for "Deonoto fuit nata ..." the First Responsory for St. Ursula at Matins), 135mm. by 105mm., in complex foliate design in orange, blue, green and brown, terminating in leafy extensions into border, enclosing full-length portrait of St. Ursula in a blue dress and orange robe, crowned and with a burnished gold halo, all on blue ground heightened with small white circles, two small original holes in vellum above miniature, some folding to vellum in outer margin, else excellent condition, in card mount

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing where appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

illumination

The details of the present miniature, especially that of the facial features, are well executed, and the complexity of the initial itself, including a string of bead-like circles in the ascender of the 'D' is worth note. The oval shape of the face, the round cheeks and the rather flat facial features suggest central Italy, and while some similarities can be seen to the Virgin in an initial by Berardo da Teramo, active in the first half of the fourteenth century in Abruzzi (Palladino, Treasures of a Lost Art, 2003, no. 19), there is perhaps a closer connection to an initial published as part of the collection of F. G. Zeileis (Più ridon le carte, 2004, no. 51; also Maggs, Cat. 642, 1938, lot 3, and reproduced there), and identified as from Tuscany. Neither of those, however, has as complex an initial as the present manuscript.

From the collection of the late Dr F. Jossi.