A Marvellous Book of Hours with Many Black Borders: one of the Most Stunning Works by the Master of Charles VIII.
Book of Hours. Horae B. M. V. for the use of Paris. Illuminated manuscript on vellum with 97 images in 55 miniatures by the Master of Charles VIII.: 18 full-page or large miniatures, 12 small miniatures, 24 calendar miniatures and 43 small depictions of saints in the calendar borders. Paris, around 1485/90. Octavo (160 x 108 mm). Black morocco binding of the 17th century.
An overflowing, richly illustrated Parisian book of hours preserved in its entirety. Created by an artist who played a significant role also in the development of Parisian book painting and printing, which excelled in the immense richness of images, and whom his historiographer even tentatively identifies as Antoine Vérard. Striking and vivid in colour, and containing moments of iconographical license typical for the artist, this manuscript is an introduction to the world of an illuminator, whose pictorial imagination triumphs as much in the calendar, as in his sense for otherwise unexplored effects, such as black backgrounds. In no other work do we see him as fascinated by the possibilities creating familiar scenes in varying proximity. For King Charles’ VIII. personal Book of Hours painted by this artist, see our catalogue Leuchtendes Mittelalter Neue Folge VI, 23a: more than 500 miniatures.
In excellent condition, only cut close to some of the borders.
Provenance: Nicolas Joseph de Nettancourt, Vicaire général d'Orléans (28.7.1711-28.10.1743), Archdeacon of Sologne, Canon of Sainte Croix in Orléans, later "conseilleur aumônier ordinaire du Roi": entry, dated 1745, with reference to N. J. de Nettancourt as the testator ("frère"): as he had two brothers and three sisters, it is not possible to determine the heir more precisely. Last sale catalogue VI, Manuscrits enluminés et livres précieux, Chartres 1989, no. 5: 1.5 M francs.
This manuscript is lot 35 in our catalogue 81 Paris mon Amour III, available in our Online Shop.
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