Latin Book of Hours, Italy, 15th century
- Component identifier:
- Item 6
- Content Summary:
-
Description: i, 141, ii leaves (vellum); 154 x 111 mm.
Script: Italina littera gothica textualis or possibly Italian Gothic rotunda
Decoration: Decoration is unfinished, with some initials not added or incomplete. Major initials in Ferrara foliate style. Incipit on f.1r 'Officinis Bte Marie virginis…', with initial letter "O" enclosing a miniature of the Virgin and Child, with borders of tendrils and flower sprays in red and blue and green on an illuminated frame. At the foot there is a shield of a camel in silver leaf raising from a pink gesso ground. The shield is surrounded by a laurel wreath, supported by putti borne upon tendrils of red, blue and green. Other capitals are painted in red, blue and yellow, and those not completed are sketched in ink; rubricated in red and blue throughout, and in the last leaves some marginal flourishes in red ink. On f.96r the Office of the Cross opens with a crescent moon man initial added by a later hand, which is supplying the unfinished initials. Catchwords have colophon decoration in late antique fashion, showing humanist interests.
Layout: One column; 14 or 15 lines to a page
Binding: Old mottled calf; spine gilt (spine slightly wormed and worn)
Provenance: Shield on bottom centre of f.1r possibly indicates association with the Gobio family of Mantua, whose family emblem is a silver dromedary positioned on a green ground with blue background. On f.141v in a late 15th century hand, almost obliterated, is inscribed a prayer 'Oratio post divinum officium', together with an illegible signature. Inscribed on inside front cover: 'Mary E. Kavanagh left this book to her nephew Lord Clifford, 1898.' The inside back cover is inscribed 'No. 30' in a 19th century hand. On f.22v is what appears to be an illegible name; erasures apparent on folios 9r, 17r and 55r.
Notes: Probable Franciscan influence as evidenced by the inclusion of St Clare of Assisi and St Bernadino of Siena in the litany. Rome usage.
Reference: Sinclair: No.8 pp. 27-30; Manion Vines: No.27 pp.86-87
- 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.
Online content
Access and use
- Parent Restrictions:
- Available for research.
- Location of this collection:
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Parkes PlaceCanberra ACT 2600, Australia
- Contact: