c 1490-1510 Book of Hours Leaf - Coronation of Virgin Mary

$9,600.00

Original leaf from a manuscript Book of Hours. 12 lines of text (recto), ruled in red, written in Latin in angular gothic book-hand script on animal vellum. (160 x 115mm – 6 ¼ x 4 ½’’) 

 One two-line illuminated initial in blue on gold ground; three one-line illuminated initials and four illuminated line-extenders in gold on a red or blue ground.  Elaborate panel border (recto) in colorful floral and gemstone motif on blue ground.  

France: Rouen (Use of Rouen)  c. 1490-1510.

The exceptionally fine full-page illuminated painting depicts the Coronation of the Virgin Mary by the Holy Trinity. Style and execution are  closely related to the Master of the Geneva Latini (see Walter 224 & 233 for examples), and similar to miniatures in the Book of Hours, Bodleian Library MS Buchanan e3, likely painted by the same artist - notable for beautifully modelled faces and eyes.

The full page miniature painting depicts The Coronation.  Mary, in green robe with blue mantle, kneels in the center with hand clasped in prayer. She is crowned jointly by figures of God the Father (holding a gold cross-topped orb in left hand),  God the Son (nude under mantle, supporting the cross with his left hand and holding wound with right hand),  and God the Holy Spirit in form of a dove hovering above the head of Mary. In the background between two green columns with gold penwork are three angels in prayer – a dark blue starry sky above them. The miniature painting is framed within a blue and gold radiating oval setting within another frame having two elaborate columns in blue and gold.  The text, recto, concludes the Hour of Vespers, with the miniature painting opening the Hour of Compline. 

Presented in an archival 14 x 11'' mat

 

  • Inventory# IM-11820