Latin and French Book of Hours, France, 15th century

Component identifier:

Item 5

Content Summary:

Description: i-ii, 150, iii leaves (vellum); 178 x 125mm.

Script: French littera gothica textualis

Decoration: Twelve full-page miniatures (90 x 66mm) by two French artists. The work of the main artist is stylistically akin to Simon Marmion of Amiens, Valenciennes area, third quarter of the 15th century. Illustrations include: the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Annunciation to the Shepherds, the Manger, the Adoration of the Magi, the Flight into Egypt, the Crucifixion and a Pieta (f.141r) in a different style by another (possibly later) hand. Each miniature is surrounded by borders of scrolling foliage and fruits with grotesque beasts and birds in blue, green, pink, lilac and red. Most pages have marginal decoration of gold on red and blue grounds and line-fillings similarly decorated. Gilt-edged. Some illustrations have characteristic Flemish borders. Red ruling an indication of extra expense in producing the volume.

Two of the miniature pages are not in their original state – the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary on f.25r and the Annunciation to the Shepherds on f.43.r. Each folio has had a segment cut out and the miniature pasted onto it. Script and decoration on the back of each miniature is consistent with that of the rest of the volume but does not run on to the next page. The miniature on f.25r has been pasted onto a page that has the remains of an original border decoration on the left hand side. Matching foliate bar borders have been pasted onto the other three sides. The miniature on f.43r has no added borders. Possible scenarios for these two pages: something went wrong with the gold ground; the original borders were too 'explicit'; the original borders contained the initials of the previous owner; or the artist did not complete the border illustrations. Layout: One column; 17 lines to the page; calendar of 12 leaves (f.1r - f12v); blank pages on f.24v and f.92v.

Binding: Fine 17th century binding, possibly in the style of Samuel Mearne, of blind-tooled "drawn-handle" and floral arabesques within blind-tooled borders; spine is gilt; remains of silk ties.

Provenance: Inside front cover annotated 'I. Fontaine' in an 18th century hand; also contains a bookplate printed with the text 'From F.G. Dowty, Bookseller, Cornhill, Bridgwater'. This bookplate has been annotated 'Charles H. Clifford, 1854'.

Notes: The Calendar is written in the vernacular ie in French and probably originally created for a French patron. The first three leaves of the Calendar (f.1r-f.3v) have had the information carefully and fully excised, with only the illuminated initials remaining. Image of Bethsheba on f.70r has been excised, possibly by someone with a Puritan mind. Chalons-sûr-Marne usage.

Reference: Sinclair: No.7 pp. 25-27; Manion Vines: No.76 pp.184-85

Immediate source of acquisition:

The collection was purchased by the National Library of Australia from the estate of the 11th Baron Clifford in November 1963. It reached Canberra in April 1964. The Chertsey Cartulary (item 65), possibly the most important medieval manuscript held in Australia due to the fact that it is one of only three extant from the 14th century and the only one held outside the UK, was received in 1975, following the granting of an export licence by the British Government.

Names:

Clifford, Hugh, Colonel Hon.

Access and use