The Dagnes Book of Hours, Use of Rome, in Latin and French [France (Paris), c.1460]

119x85mm, vellum, ii+233+ii (foliation repeats ‘192’), lacking four miniatures and one text leaf, 31 quires of 8 leaves except i12-1 (i cancelled, blank), iv8-2 (vii-viii cancelled, blank), v8-1 (i wanting after f.33), viii8-1 (viii wanting after f.63), x8-1 (vii wanting after f.77, text leaf), xi8-1 (ii wanting after f.79) xvi2, xix8+1 (f.144 singleton), xx8-1 (i wanting after f.144), xxii4, xxxi6, 15 lines, 58x37mm, 24 SMALL CALENDAR MINIATURES, 8 LARGE MINIATURES with full borders, all text pages with fine panel borders including figures, birds, animals and other objects, small illuminated initials and line-fillers, 55 with saints, monks, dogs, and a lion; erased inscriptions (ff.1r, 144r-v, 162r, 223v, 232v); the first page considerably rubbed, some smudging and flaking of pigments throughout, especially of white; 19th- or 20th-century dark green French morocco with gilt ornaments and title, the edges gilt and painted with leafy patterns, two clasps

provenance

(1) Written and illuminated in Paris in c.1460. In the litany, the lists of martyrs and confessors both start with Silvester and Leo.

(2) The final nine leaves (ff.224r-232r) have a series of about 30 records of the births (and a few deaths and marriages), starting in 1535 with Marie, daughter of François Dagnes and his wife Katherine Feorault, of Le Mans, and ending in 1616.

(3) Constans Huet, 1809 (ownership inscriptions, ff.47r (erased), 162r).

text and illumination

Calendar in French, with an entry for every day (f.1r); Gospel extracts (f.12r); prayers ‘Obsecro te’ (f.19r), ‘O intemerata’ (f.24r); suffrages (f.29r); Hours of the Virgin, Use of Rome, with Matins (f.34r), Lauds (f.48r), Prime (f.64r), Terce (f.70r), Sext (f.76r), None (f.80r), Vespers (f.85r), Compline (f.95v); Penitential Psalms (f.120r), litany (f.135v); Hours of the Cross (f.145r) and of the Holy Spirit (f.154r); Office of the Dead (f.164r).

This Book of Hours is an exquisite work by the MASTER OF JEAN ROLIN II who worked in Paris between c.1445 and 1465 as an illuminator of books for aristocratic patrons, including members of the court of Charles VII (see N. Reynaud in Les manuscrits à peintures, exh.cat., 1993, pp.38-45). He is named for illuminations in numerous manuscripts made for the cardinal-bishop of Autun, Jean Rolin II. In some early manuscripts, the Master of Jean Rolin II collaborated with the Dunois Master, the chief associate and most successful follower of the Bedford Master. The Rolin Master’s work is characterised by short stocky figures, women with pale round heads and pointed chins, and men with broad features. Although he was probably trained in Paris, his work also reveals his interest in Netherlandish art.

The subjects of the large miniatures are: (1) f.48r, the Visitation; (2) f.70r, Annunciation to the Shepherds; (3) f.76r, Adoration of the Magi; (4) f.85r, Flight into Egypt; (5) f.95v, Coronation of the Virgin; (6) f.120r, David in Penitence; (7) f.154r, Pentecost; (8) f.164r, Confession: in a bedroom a layman kneels before another seated man, who blesses him, while in the background a seated physician inspects a specimen-jar.