summary
Book of Hours, use of Tours
note (text)
This Book of Hours of the Use of Tours contains twelve miniatures by a follower of Jean Bourdichon (1457-1521). The calendar includes both the translation of Saint Gatian (2 May, fol. 5r) and the feast for the same saint (18 December, fol. 12v), as well as Saint Marin (November 11, fol. 11r), confirming the localization for Tours. The book begins with the Gospel Lesson for John followed by the "Protector in te sperantium Deus..." and Obsecro te prayers. The Hours of the Virgin contains the habitual miniatures: Annunciation (fol. 17r); Visitation (fol. 26r); Nativity (fol. 35r); Annunciation to the Shepherds (fol. 39v); Adoration of the Magi (fol. 43r); Presentation in the Temple (fol. 46r); Flight into Egypt (fol. 49r); and Coronation of the Virgin (fol. 54v). The Hours of the Virgin is intercalated with a miniature of the Crucifixion (fol. 34r) and an abbreviated text for the Hours of the Cross. Between the Hours of the Virgin and the Penitential Psalms, the book contains a prayer to the Crucified Christ, "O domine ihesu Christe adoro te...," which is introduced by a slightly smaller miniature of the Man of Sorrows with two angels (fol 58r). The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and prayers follow, introduced by a miniature of David in Prayer (fol. 60r). The book ends with the Office of the Dead, which is introduced by a miniature of Death as a corpse carrying a golden coffin (fol. 73v). The book belonged to the noted eighteenth-century English collector, Sir Andrew Fountaine (1676-1753), and the calligraphic inventory mark, "N. 14," on the verso of the second upper flyleaf may be an inventory mark of his.
extent
096 ff. (CCLL)iii+96+iii
leaf dimensions : height (mm)
197
leaf dimensions : width (mm)
143
justification : height (mm)
125
justification : width (mm)
80
note (deco)
12 half-page miniatures with foliate borders12 large illuminated, decorated initials. Red and blue lluminated initials and line fillers throughout.
binding
S. XVI French red morocco with dentele borders ruled in gold, gilt edges, embossed flyleaves and pastedowns. Stamped in gold on spine, "HEVRES GOTIQVE."
origDate : proposed date
Circa 1490
note (history)
"N. 14" written in ink on the verso of the first front end leaf, with "105" written in pencil. Also a catalogue entry pasted to the verso of the first end leaf. Another catalogue entry pasted onto recto of first back end leaf.
provenance
Sir Andrew Fountaine (sold 1902); Quaritch; Susan B. Minns (sold 1922); John Frederick Lewis, Philadelphia
ID Arkindex
6fea72c1-6f6a-4e15-9af0-4d3dcfb78747
HORAE_1200pxmin (1815 mss)
Philadelphia_Free_Library_of_Philadelphia_Lewis_E_128.tar.gz
Digitization-type
single page
