Miniature illuminated manuscript on vellum with 12 full-page and 4 small miniatures by the Parisian atelier of Maître François.

A tiny and complete Parisian Book of Hours with a plethora of intricate illuminations.

91 x 65mm (3.6 x 2.6in). 190 leaves on vellum, additional 4 paper leaves after (plus 3 paper endleaves at front and back)
Complete, collation: 1-238, 246.

Modern foliation in pencil at bottom right corners.14 lines, justified 54 x 38mm (2.1 x 1.5in), ruled in red ink, written in small dark brown lettre bâtarde, rubrics in red, penwork initials in blue with red infill or in burnished gold with dark blue infill, and flourishing extending into the margins throughout, line fillers in blue and gold. Calendar in dark brown and red. 4 small miniatures measuring four lines depicting three of the evangelists and their symbols, and the Virgin, touched in gold, some in arched frames, within three-sided panel border decorations of acanthus leaves, wildflowers, and strawberries, some in gold grounds and with black hairline penwork.

12 large miniatures in arched compartments within full borders in the same style, with additional figures of birds, insects, monsters, and a half-naked man, each including a large initial measuring 3-5 lines, blue on red with gold and white penwork, one on liquid gold grounds illuminated with berries. Some occasional light thumbing and cockling, a few smudges, and minor losses of pigment to some of the miniatures, but overall clean and vibrant. Bound in a beautiful 17th-century French red morocco binding with two triple gilt ruled frames to both boards and arabesque stamps at each corner, spine divided into five compartments, all with gilt arabesque decoration, raised bands, gilt roll tooling to board edges, brass clasp and catch in fine condition, minor cracking to one joint and some signs of wear to spine and corners, all edges gilt, marbled endpapers, bookplate to front endpaper, and additional gathering of four leaves inserted at the end, with manuscript prayer in an 18th century hand, in French and Latin.

Text: Calendar ff.1-14v; blanks ff.15-16; Gospels ff.17-24v; Joys of the Virgin ff.25-28v; prayers to be said at different times of day and during mass ff.29-40v; Hours of the Virgin, use of Paris, ff.41-100v: matins f.41, lauds f.54, prime f.67, terce f.73v, sext f.78v, none f.83, vespers f.87v; compline f.95; Hours of the Cross, ff.101-108v; Hours of the Holy Spirit ff.109-114v; Seven Penitential Psalms and Litany ff.115-136v; Office of the Dead, use of Paris, ff.137-190v; additional gathering with prayer to the Virgin and the Holy Wound in French and Latin. Illumination: Twelve full-page and four small illuminations by the Parisian atelier of Maître François (fl.1460-80), tentatively identified with François Barbier père, active in Paris between 1455-72. An oeuvre of around fifty manuscripts has been reconstructed for the master through comparison to his only documented work from 1475 (La Cité de Dieu in Paris, Bib. Sainte-Geneviève, ms. 246).

Painted in vibrant colours and with unusual marginalia decoration, including lozenge and square divisions within borders, which are also populated with a variety of birds, monsters, and the figure of a half-naked, drunk man. The use of gold thin strokes to highlight is liberally employed throughout the miniatures, the light tones present in the landscapes, and the porcelain-like complexions of the female figures point towards master François’ method. Variants in overall style can be observed in different miniatures within this book of hours, pointing towards a variation in the personal style of different scribes. The subjects of the large miniatures are as follows: St John on Patmos, sitting down writing with an eagle at his side f.17; Annunciation, with the Virgin facing Gabriel, the Holy Spirit flying through an open window f.41; the Nativity, Christ lying on the floor surrounded by the Virgin and Joseph in a barn f.67, Annunciation to the Shepherds, three shepherds gazing up from their flock to an angel holding a banderole ‘Gloria in excelsis Deo’ f.73v, Adoration of the Magi, two figures of the kings in addition to the family, one looking at the Star of Bethlehem f.78v, Presentation in the Temple, with the Virgin’s figure kneeling f.83; the Massacre of the Innocents f.87v; Flight into Egypt, background figures of wheat farmers and an army f.95; Crucifixion, the figure of the fainting Virgin being held by St John and Mary Magdalene, a Roman soldier holding a lance and shield and a richly dressed figure wearing a medieval cardinal’s attire, f.101; Pentecost, the Virgin and the Holy Spirit central to the composition f.109; Bathsheba bathing, King David observing in the background f.115; Death with a spear approaching a nobleman who turns away f.137. The four smaller miniatures depict Luke the Evangelist f.18v, Matthew the Apostle f.20v, Mark the Evangelist f.22v, and the Virgin with Saint Anne f.54.

Provenance: 1. Produced in Paris, as indicated by the Calendar, illumination and liturgical use, during the last quarter of the 15th century. 2. An erased c.17th century inscription on f.4, partially legible under black light: ‘Monsieur La […]?’. 3. Jacques-Philippe Ledru (1754-1832), French physician, mayor of Fontenay-aux-Roses, Grand Master of the Parisian masonic lodge the Chevaliers de la Croix, and son of Nicolas-Philippe Ledru, conjurer and illusionist under Louis XV and Louis XVI: his engraved ex-libris ‘EX LIBRIS JACOBI PHILIPPI LE DRU MEDICUS’ inside upper cover.

A charming, pocket-sized Parisian Hours from the end of the 15th century.