BOOK OF HOURS FOR THE USE OF TROYES(?) Latin... - Lot 18 - Aguttes

Lot 18
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Result : 169 000EUR
BOOK OF HOURS FOR THE USE OF TROYES(?) Latin... - Lot 18 - Aguttes
BOOK OF HOURS FOR THE USE OF TROYES(?) Latin manuscript, with later additions in Catalan, illuminated manuscript on parchment, of French origin, perhaps in Champagne, in Troyes, c. 1260-1270, 9 historiated initials by an unknown artist (stylistic unicum?) [1] + 118 ff. ; quaternions; one calendar leaf and 2 probably blank leaves missing (classification: i6 [of 8, iii missing (leaf removed), as well as vi; i is the pastedown guard], ii-xi8, xii4, xiii-xv8, xvi7 [of 8, vii is missing, probably blank; viii pastedown guard]); on parchment, 125 x 95 mm (85 x 57 mm) ; 12 long lines; black, red, and blue inks; graphite rules; textualis formata (a relatively early example that still has elements of praegothica), antiphons in textualis libraria of smaller size ; large 5-line high antennae historiated initial introducing Matins of the Hours of the Virgin and 8 4-line high antennae historiated initials for the rest of the Hours of the Virgin and Psalm 6, the first Psalm of the Penitents - two-line champie initials for hymns, psalms, lessons, chapters, hymns, and Kyrie eleison of the Litany - red and blue watermarked initials - numerous line ends in red and blue ink with several ornamental motifs; small marginal losses of parchment on three leaves without affecting the text. Bound in full morocco in the Mudejar style (14th-15th c.), boards on cold-stamped wooden boards decorated with string interlacing motifs, clasp missing, small wormholes on the boards, very slight rubbing on the corners, parchment endpapers with later handwritten notes affected by wormwork. This manuscript is among the oldest preserved books of hours of French manufacture; its size and layout make it similar to the famous Brailes Hours (London, BL, Add. MS 49999) which are considered the oldest English Hours. INTRO The thirteenth century saw the appearance of a new liturgical book, the book of hours, which gradually replaced the psalter or the psalter-hours as a devotional book for the laity, in accordance with the edicts of the fourth Lateran Council in 1215, which required the faithful to make a minimum annual confession. The book of hours was then a new visual and textual support for the personal and daily exercise of piety of the laity. To this day, only 70 books of hours or psalter-books of hours, whose French origin is recognized, predate the 14th century. Therefore, any discovery of a new witness is crucial to expand our understanding of the genesis of the books of hours (their liturgical uses, commissioners and conditions of production). TEXT Copied in Latin, with later additions in Catalan; probably for liturgical use in Troyes, with variants close to the use in Sens. Of simple composition, this book of hours contains a calendar, the hours of the Virgin, the penitential psalms, the litanies followed by petitions and collections (but without the hours of the cross, of the Holy Spirit, the office of the dead or of prayer). The liturgical use of the Hours of the Virgin remains undetermined but the use is close to that of Troyes or Sens (the small hours and compline follow the use of Troyes). The content of the calendar suggests an origin from Champagne or Burgundy. The litanies end on Romain de Beauvais, disciple of Lucien de Beauvais, both included in the litanies and also in the calendar for Lucien (l.8). - f. 1v-12 : Calendar, red and black ink (one leaf missing: second half of February and first half of March). Several later additions by three different hands (cursive between the 14th and 15th c.). The succession of saints is close to the usage of Bourges with some variants (the study of the different additions would be interesting to study the provenances). - f. 13-88v: Hours of the Virgin, according to the usage of Troyes or Sens (?) - Matins (f.13-29); Lauds (f.29v-46v); Prime (f.46v-54v); Tierce (f.55-60); Sexte (f.60-65); None (f.65-70v); Vespers (f.70v-80v); Compline (f.80v-88v). - f.89r-110: Penitential psalms. - f.110-117r: Litanies and petitions. - f.117v-118v: Collects. ICONOGRAPHY List of the 9 historiated initials with antennae: - f. 13, Large initial D, Virgin and Child - f. 29v, Initial D, Annunciation - f. 46v, Initial D, Visitation - f. 55, Initial D, Nativity - f. 60, Initial D, Flight into Egypt - f. 65, Initial D, Adoration of the Magi (usually placed at Sext, here at the beginning of None, probably due to the rubric) - f. 70v, Initial D, Presentation in the Temple - f. 80v, Initial D, Flagellation - f. 89, Initial D, David in majesty. These historiated initials do not seem to be linked to any known style of the time. The characters they contain are characterized by figures with
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