BOOK OF HOURS FOR SAINT GUDULE OF BRUSSELS AND SAINT WAUDRU - Lot 2

BOOK OF HOURS FOR SAINT GUDULE OF BRUSSELS AND SAINT WAUDRU OF MONS Manuscript in Latin and French, Flanders (Bruges), circa 1450. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION In-4°, [142] leaves on parchment, 17 to 18 long lines, 195 × 150 mm (130 × 90 mm). Carbon ink, red ink rules, foliation missing. Writing in textualis formata and cursiva formata for later leaves. Decoration: One full-page miniature and 11 mid-page miniatures, all framed by a wide border decorated with gilded vine leaves, acanthus leaves and flowers, sometimes animated with drollery or birds. Gilded initials on a gold background, set with a four-line rinceaux or checkerboard decoration at the beginning of each miniature; gilded initials on a filigree background on one or two lines in the rest of the text. Borders composed of a fine variegated column and a wide band with small flower motifs on each page. Binding: Full XVIIIᵉ century havana basane on wooden aisles, four-ribbed spine decorated with compartments partitioned and flowered with peony-motif irons, framing roulette on the boards, cold roulette on the edges, red edges. Rubbing and small epidermal marks on the boards; top cover slightly split; corners and headpieces rubbed. Remarkable manuscript, masterfully executed by an artist from Bruges around 1450, probably designed for a patron in Mons. This large-format, entirely painted Book of Hours is distinguished by the richness and finesse of its illuminations. TEXT - f. 1v-3v: Later prayers in French: Oraison a dire devant le sacrement; devant le Crucifix; Contre la tentation charnelle; Contre les mauvaises pensées; Pour obtenir la miséricorde. - f. 4r-15v: Calendar in French for the use of Mons(?), with special attention to Saint Waldeltrude (or Waudru). Colloquialisms: the 'ch' pronounced 'k' "Saint march ewāgłe" or 'S' pronounced 'ch' "Saint franchois" typical of the pronunciation of northern France and French-speaking Belgium. - f. 16r- 22r: Hours of the Cross in Latin. - f. 22v-28v: Hours of the Holy Spirit in Latin. - f. 29r-31v : Pericope of Saint John. - f. 32r-76v: Hours of the Virgin in Latin for the use of Sainte Gudule de Bruxelles with variants corresponding to Sainte-Waudru de Mons (complete collation on request). - f. 77-86: Penitential Psalms. - f. 87-92r : Litanies: Sancta Waldetrudis and Aldegondis follow Sancta Maria Egyptiana and introduce the rest of the saints. - f. 92v-116v: Office of the Dead in Latin: list of responses 14, 72, 38. The rest of the text is too sparse to be significant. - f. 117r-124v: Suffrages (headings in French and text in Latin): Psalme de la Foy, Les viii vers saint Bernard; Les v joies à la Vierge Marie; Memore de Saint Antoine; Memore de Saint Nicoholay; Memore de Sainte margherite; Memore de Sainte barbre. - f. 125r-142: Later prayers in French: Oraison à la Vierge Marie; O interemata en franchois; Oraison a dieu et aux sainctz; Pour ceulx qui sont en tribulation; Sen sieult le Regina celi en franchois; La prose Sancti Spiritus en franchois; La prose de Veni Sancte Spiritus en franchois; Aultre oraison du meisme; A saint sever oraison; Oraison à son ange; Quant vous serez levez. Orais ; Oraisons. The French prayers at the beginning and end of the volume were added towards the end of the 15th century. ICONOGRAPHY The miniature artist appears to have trained in Bruges. He probably came from the circle of the Maîtres aux rinceaux d'or, active in Bruges between 1420 and 1450. The stereotyped compositions borrowed from the Parisian workshops of the preceding decades are to be found here: soft, pale faces, graceful figures, slender fingers, brightly hued draperies, saturated backgrounds and deep blue skies. The miniatures' frames, too, are fully in keeping with the Bruges tradition of the period: fine golden-leaved vines blossom into polychrome acanthus leaves or varied flowers, and are sometimes enlivened by the presence of stilt-walkers or colorful chimeras. The present manuscript contains one full-page miniature, the Visitation, and 11 mid-page miniatures. - f. 16r : Crucifixion - f. 22v: Pentecost - f. 32r : Annunciation - f. 41v: Visitation (full page) - f. 50v: Nativity - f. 55r : Announcement to the shepherds - f. 58v: Adoration of the Magi. - f. 62r: Visit to the temple - f. 65v: Flight into Egypt - f. 71v: Massacre of the Holy Innocents. - f. 77r: Last Judgment - f. 92v: Resurrection of Lazarus PROVENANCE The commissioner was probably from Mons, as attested by the presence of Saint Waudru in the calendar and litanies. The Hours of