Book of Hours, Use of Saintes, in Latin [France (Paris), c.1470-80]

c.95x65mm, vellum, 190 leaves, lacking 5 leaves with miniatures and a few text leaves, collation: i12, ii-iii8, iv2, v8, vi8-1 (wanting vi), vii-ix8, x8-2 (wanting i and vi), xi8-1 (wanting iii), xii8, xiii10-3 (wanting ii-iii and vii), xiv-xvi8, xvii8-1 (wanting i), xviii8-1 (wanting i), xix-xxiv8, xxv8-1 (wanting viii), 16 lines (52x32mm), 5 LARGE MINIATURES with full borders by MAÎTRE FRANÇOIS (perhaps François Le Barbier, documented in Paris 1455-72), 3 large initials with three-quarter borders, ALL TEXT PAGES WITH TWO-LINE INITIALS WITH PANEL BORDERS, generally some wear, first Calendar leaf considerably rubbed, last two leaves affected by slight water damage, miniatures in fresh condition, bound in 17th-century French olive-brown morocco, marbled endleaves, gilt edges

A BOOK OF HOURS PREPARED IN THE CAPITAL FOR THE RARE SOUTH-WESTERN FRENCH USE SAINTES APPARENTLY FOR EXPORT

Provenance

(1) Sold in our rooms, 6 July 2000, lot 83. (2) Priv. coll., UK.

Text and Illumination

Calendar (f.1r); Gospel extracts (f.13r), Obsecro te (f.20r) and O intemerata (f.24v); the Hours of the Virgin, Use of Saintes, with Matins (f.31r), Lauds (f.44r), Prime (f.57r), Terce (f.64r), Sext (f.70r), None (f.74r), Vespers (f.78r), Compline (f.86r); Hours of the Cross (f.92r) and of the Holy Spirit (f.95r); Penitential Psalms (f.98r), litany (f.113v); Office of the Dead, Use of Saintes (f.129r); Suffrages (f.186r).

The subjects of the miniatures are: (1) Annunciation to the Virgin (f.31r); (2) Nativity of Christ (f.57r); (3) Annunciation to the Shepherds (f.64r); (4) Coronation of the Virgin (f.86r); (5) David in Prayer (f.98r).