Book of Hours, Use of Rouen, in Latin and French [France (Rouen), c.1485-95]

160x110mm, vellum, ii+110+ii leaves, lacking two miniatures after ff.15 and 73, collation: i12, ii3 (misbound, part of quire viii), iii8-1 (lacking i), iv-vii8, viii4 (2nd half of quire misbound as ii), ix8, x8-1 (last blank cancelled), xi8-1 (lacking i), xii-xiv8, xv6, 20 lines, 92x57mm, 12 LARGE MINIATURES WITH FULL BORDERS, illuminated initials and line-fillers, PANEL BORDERS ON ALL PAGES, French 18th-century red gilt morocco, 18th-century velvet-lined brocade bag, modern box

A BOOK OF HOURS IN THE TRADITION OF THE MASTER OF THE ECHEVINAGE DE ROUEN, PROBABLY AN EARLY WORK BY ROBERT BOYVIN, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL NORMAN RENAISSANCE PAINTER 

PROVENANCE

(1) Made for a woman (her portrait on f.103r). (2) John A. Saks (1913-83), American book collector (bookplate, f.i verso); his sale at Christie's, New York, 20 May 1983, lot 45, for $9,350 to (3) John F. Fleming for Robert and Joan Cremin.   

TEXT AND ILLUMINATION

Calendar (f.1r); Compline from the Hours of the Virgin (f.13r, lacking last leaf); Gospel Lessons (f.16r, lacking first leaf); Obsecro te (f.19v); O intemerata (f.22r); Hours of the Virgin (f.27r); Penitential Psalms (f.59r), litany (f.68v); Hours of the Cross (f.74r, lacking first leaf); Hours of the Holy Spirit (f.76v); Office of the Dead (f.79v); Doulce dame (f.103r); added prayers by a contemporary hand (f.108v).

This Book of Hours was illuminated by a follower of the Master of the Echevinage de Rouen (for this artist see lot 42) who can probably be identified with the young ROBERT BOYVIN (see I. Delaunay, 'Le manuscrit enluminé à Rouen au temps du cardinal Georges d'Amboise', Annales de Normandie, 45e année, no.3, 1995, 211-44). Robert Boyvin, documented in Rouen from 1487 to 1536, worked between 1501 and 1503 for the great Renaissance patron Cardinal Georges d'Amboise, Archbishop of Rouen. Boyvin is known for employing broad decorated gold frames. He reserved this elaborate element of decoration for the opening of the main text of a Book of Hours, the Hours of the Virgin, while all other miniatures rely on more traditional patterns established under his predecessor, the Master of the Echevinage de Rouen.

The subjects of the large miniatures are: (1) Coronation of the Virgin (f.13r); (2) Annunciation (f.27r); (3) Visitation (f.35v); (4) Nativity (f.44v); (5) Annunciation to the Shepherds (f.48v); (6) Adoration of the Magi (f.51v); (7) Presentation in the Temple (f.54r); (8) Flight into Egypt (f.56v); (9) David in Prayer (f.59r); (10) Pentecost (f.76v); (11) Funeral Service (f.79v); (12) Patroness adoring Virgin and Child (f.103r).