note (text)
This Book of Hours was made in Salamanca in the late fifteenth century. It was produced for a member of the Manuel de Villena family (coat-of-arms present on fol. 15r), who were the counts of Atalaya. The book contains a large number of accessory texts and unusual Offices which contribute to its great length. The book begins with a calendar (fols. 1r-12v), followed by the Hours of the Virgin for the Use of Rome (fols.15r-116v), including variant readings for Advent. Each hour is preceded by a full-page miniature displaying the habitual iconography. The following section consists of the Mass of the Virgin (fols. 117-129r), and is preceded by a full-page miniature of the Virgin and Child in an interior. Next come the unillustrated Gospel Lessons and the Passion according to John (fols. 129v-148v), which begins with a historiated initial. The Office of the Dead (fols. 151r-206r) is preceded by a full-page miniature showing the Raising of Lazarus. The Penitential Psalms, Litany, and associated prayers are preceded by a full-page miniature of King David in Prayer. The following sections of the book are more unusual, consisting of: the Athanasian Creed followed by the Hours of the Passion, Hours of the Holy Spirit, and Hours of Corpus Christi, each unillustrated (fols. 232r-262r); the Hours of the Conception of the Virgin (fols. 263r-269r), introduced by a full-page miniature of the Meeting at the Golden Gate; the Hours of the Passion (fols. 270r-321v), Hours of the Guardian Angel followed by Psalter of Saint Jerome (fols. 322r-353v), Hours of Saint Catherine (fols. 354r-368v); and Hours of Mary Magdalene (fols. 369r-422r), each unillustrated. The following section, which is a continuous textual unit (fols. 423r-455v), contains a large assortment of prayers: the Salve Sancta Facies (preceded by a full-page miniature of Saint Veronica holding the Sudarium) followed by the "Deus qui nobis samulis tuis lumine...," Obsecro te (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), "Subveniat nobis quaesumus...," "Ad sanctitatis tuae pedes dulcissima virgo...," "Iure te laudamus regina celi...," Prayers of Pope Gregory, and Suffrages. Most prayers and the suffrages are introduced by an inhabited initial. The section continues with prayers in Castilian: "Gracias te do yo sennor todo poderoso..." (introduced by an inhabited initial); "Muy dulce Ihesu...," with instructions; "Dolor y displicencia tengo...;" and "Sennor eternal dios myo..." (introduced by a small miniature of a woman in prayer before an altar). The final section (fols. 457r-467r) consists of the O intemerata (introduced by a large inhabited initial of the Virgin and Child), followed by Stabat Mater (introduced by a small miniature of the Pietà), prayer "Interveniat pro nobis quesumus...," Prayer of Saint Augustin "Domina nostra auxiliatrix...," and prayer "Quid tibi pro tantis reddam...." On the basis of the large, rotunda-style script and the broadly-painted miniatures, the book can be dated to the last quarter of the fifteenth century.
