An early Parisian Book of Hours from the immediate Circle of the Boucicaut Master: complete and in near-mint condition
Book of Hours. Horae B. M. V. for the use of Paris.
Illuminated manuscript in Latin and French on vellum with 14 large miniatures by a follower or an associate of the Boucicaut Master, all text pages with full borders, 180 leaves of vellum, complete. Paris, c. 1415-20.
Small quarto (185 x 135 mm). Modern green velvet binding, the covers of the old brown 16th century leather binding with gilt centrepiece inlaid as doublures.
Preserved in near-mint condition with very large margins, this is a complete Parisian Book of Hours of the second decade of the 15th century, which already shows the most important novelties introduced by the Boucicaut Master in the late 1410s. It is the work of a highly gifted, but yet little defined artist who focuses more strongly on linear aspects of form, even in terms of modelling and definition of shadows. We have here an exemplary book of hours made in Paris c. 1415, which was created for buyers with a taste for the elegance of the “Weicher Stil” (International Gothic) around 1400 as well as the newly developed noblesse of the works of the Boucicaut Master. The preciousness of the gold leaf used in the decoration cannot be overestimated: the sumptuous secondary decoration of every text page and the patterned backgrounds of the miniatures make abundant use of this valuable material and add to the stern expression of the elegant compositions. It is a sheer thing of beauty.
The Miniatures:
fol. 19: Office of the Virgin for the use of Paris: Matins with the Annunciation to the Virgin (fol. 19), Lauds with the Visitation (fol. 44), Prime with Nativity (fol. 55), Terce with the Annunciation to the Shepherds (fol. 61), Sext with the Adoration of the Magi (fol. 65v), None with the Presentation in the Temple (fol. 70), Vespers with the Flight to Egypt (fol. 74), Compline with the Coronation of the Virgin (fol. 80v). fol. 87: Penitential Psalms with a Penitent David in Prayer, and the Litany (fol. 100), including Parisian saints. fol. 106: Hours of the Holy Cross with the Crucifixion (fol. 106), and the Hours of the Holy Spirit with Pentecost (fol. 113v). fol. 119v: Office of the Dead, with the Celebration of the Office, for the use of Paris: Vespers (fol. 119v, with a rubric „ad vespers mortuorum“), Matins (fol. 127, with a rubric); Lauds not marked. fol. 165: French Prayer to the Virgin: Doulce dame de misericorde with the Virgin Enthroned with Child, followed by the prayer: Doulz dieu (fol. 170v) with Christ at the Last Judgement.
The whole manuscript is immaculately preserved with wide margins and complete despite its irregular quires; sewing holes on the blank leaf fol.18/v: remnants of a pilgrim badge.
Provenance: Note on the last flyleaf: „acheté de M Lenfumé le 9, 9bre 1809 a vellefrie“. Before that: „Séminaire de Langres“. Later P. Beres, Cat. 66 (1974), no. 6: fr. 180.000,-. In a European private collection thereafter.
Literature: The manuscript is unpublished. It has been described in detail in our catalogue Paris mon Amour Vol. I, lot 8. You can view the digital version here or order your printed copy in our online shop.
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