Dr. Jörn Günther • Antiquariat
www.guenther-rarebooks.com

CONTENTS

Illuminated manuscripts

  1. Canones conciliorum, written by an insular scribe,
    Northern Italy, c. 775
  2. Psalter, so-called Bernwardpsalter,
    Germany, Hildesheim, c. 1020
  3. Gospel Lectionary, Byzantium,
    Constantinople,c. 1100
  4. St Augustine, Enarrationes in Psalmos, Upper
    Austria, Lambach Abbey, second half 12th century
  5. Vita Christi, Life of Christ and of the Virgin,
    Northern England,York, c.1190-1200,
    and East Anglia, Norfolk, c.1480-90
  6. Antiphonary, illuminated choirbook, Italy,Venice
    (San Marco), c. 1250 (between 1238 and 1264)
  7. Psalter and biblia latina with the interpretation
    of the Hebrew names, France, Lorraine, Metz, c. 1250
  8. Psalter for the use of Brussels, Northern France,
    Paris, c. 1260
  9. Biblia latina with the interpretations of
    the Hebrew names, Southern France,Toulouse,
    last quarter of the 13th century
  10. Psalter, illuminiated for Gui de Dampierre,
    Southern Netherlands, Bruges, c. 1280
  11. Speculum humanae salvationis, illuminated
    with pen-and-ink drawings by Magister Konrad,
    Austria, before 1386
  12. Book of hours, use of Chartres, illuminated by
    the Bedford workshop, France, Paris, c. 1400-10
  13. Psalter, Spain, Barcelona, shortly after 1400
    and c. 1440-50
  14. Book of hours, use of Rome, illuminated by
    Pseudo-Jacquemart, France, Paris, c. 1410
  15. The so-called Wardington Hours, hours of
    the Passion, illuminated by the Bedford workshop,
    France, Paris, c. 1410 and 1430
  16. Wirnt von Grafenberg, Wigalois (manuscript k),
    illustrated by the circle of the Workshop of 1418
    and of Diebold Lauber,Alsace, c. 1420-30
  17. I.Thomas de Chobham, Summa de poenitentia,
    dat. 1422; II. Stephan Palecz, Utilia contra errantes;
    III. Johannes Andreae, Processus iudicalis – et al.;
    Austria, Seitenstetten, c. 1422
  18. Joachim di Fiore Vaticinia sive Prophetiae
    et Imagines Summorum Pontificum,
    illustrated by the workshop of Lorenzo
    di Pietro ‘Il Vecchietta’, Benvenuto di Giovanni,
    Italy, Siena, c. 1450 and c. 1464
  19. Bruder Philipp, Marienleben
    and other texts, Upper Rhine, c. 1450
  20. German prayerbook with metalcuts, Germany,
    Cologne and Tyrol, Diocese of Brixen,
    dated 1458
  21. Book of hours, use of Paris, illuminated by
    the Master of Jacques de Luxembourg, France,
    Paris, c. 1460-70
  22. Book of hours, use of Rome, illuminated by the
    Master of Marguerite de Liederkerke, Flanders,
    Hainault, Mons or Valenciennes, c. 1500
  23. Croy-Arenberg Book of Hours, use of Sarum,
    with miniatures by the Master of Sir George
    Talbot, the Master of the First Prayer Book of
    Maximilian and the Master of the David Scenes
    in the Grimani Breviary, Flanders, Ghent,
    1505 and c. 1510-20
  24. Berault Stuart (Bernard Stewart),
    Traité sur l’art de la guerre, Northern France, Paris,
    second quarter 16th century
  25. Battista Agnese, Portolan Atlas, Italy,Venice,
    signed and dated 5 February 1544


    26. Early Prints

  26. Nativity, Single-leaf print, Southern Germany,
    c. 1440
  27. The Good Sheperd – ihesus xpristus,
    Single-leaf print, Southern Germany,
    West-Swabian, c. 1460-70
  28. Block-book – Ars Memorandi per figuras
    Evangelistarum, first print of first edition,
    Southern Germany, Nuremberg, c. 1470
  29. Block-book – Der Antichrist und die fünfzehn Zeichen
    Germany, Nuremberg: Hans Briefmaler 1472,
    second edition, i.e. Hans Sporer, 1470
  30. Celestial vision at Constantinople. Kunt und
    wissennt sey allermeniglich das ein sölich geschicht
    unnd erschreckliches erschein gesehen ist worden hinter
    Canstantinopel ..., Single leaf print, Southern
    Germany, Nuremberg c. 1491
  31. Biblia Latina – A single leaf,Mainz: Johann
    Gutenberg and Johann Fust,‘c. 1454/55’; rather 1452-1454
  32. Psalterium Benedictum Congregationis Bursfeldensis
    – A single leaf, Mainz: Johann Fust
    and Peter Schöffer, 29 August 1459
  33. I.Thomas de Aquino. Summa de articulis fidei,
    Mainz: Printer of the Catholicon before 1460
    or Peter Schöffer c. 1469
    II. Matthaeus de Cracovia. Dialogus rationis
    et conscientiae de frequenti usu Communionis,
    Mainz: see above, c. 1469;
    III.Antoninus Florentinus. Confessionale:
    Defecerunt.With: Johannes Chrysostomus. Sermo
    de poenitentia, Cologne: Ulrich Zell, c. 1470
  34. Johannes Balbus, Catholicon, Mainz: printer of
    the Catholicon, probably Gutenberg workshop
    1460, c. 1472, or 1469
  35. Rudimentum Novitiorum, Lubeck: Lucas Brandis,
    5 August 1475
  36. Speculum humanae salvationis, German:
    ein spiegel der menschlichen behaltnisze,
    Basel: Bernhard Richel, 31 August 1476
  37. Conrad von Megenberg, Das buch der Natur,
    Augsburg: Johann Bämler, 20 August 1481
  38. Auslegung – Messe singen oder lesen wer
    das thun sol, wenn, wie oder wo, Nuremberg:
    Friedrich Creussner, not after 1482
  39. Jacobus de Theramo, Belial. Cy commence le proces
    de Belial a l’encontre de Ihesus. Lyon, Mathias Huss:
    19 May 1486
  40. Compilation of ten French
    literary incunabula, Paris, 1488-c. 95, among them Olivier
    de la Marche, Le Chevalier Délibéré. Paris: Guy Marchand
    or Antoine Caillaut for Antoine Vérard,
    8 August 1488
  41. Olivier de la Marche. Le Chevalier Délibéré,
    Gouda, printer of the Chevalier délibéré,
    Collaciebroeders, after 31 October 1489
  42. Petrus de Crescentiis, Ruralia commoda.
    In commodum ruralium cum figuris libri duodecim,
    Speyer: Peter Drach, not before 1493
  43. Alanus de Rupe, Von dem psalter unnd Rosen
    krancz unser lieben frauen.Wie man den beten sol,
    Augsburg: Anton Sorg, 1492
  44. Der Doten dantz mit figuren. Clage und
    Antwort schon von allen staten der welt,
    Mainz: Jacob Meydenbach, c. 1492
  45. Fiore di virtù. Questa sie una utilissima operetta
    acada uno fidel christiano chiamata fior de virtu,Venice:
    Matteo Capcasa di Codeca, 15 January 1493
  46. Christophorus Columbus, De insulis nuper
    in mari Indico inventis, and Carolus Verardus,
    Historia Baetica. In laudem Serenissimi
    Ferdinandi Hispaniarum regis Bethicae & regni
    Granatae obsidio, victoria & triumphus,
    Basel: Johann Bergmann von Olpe, 1494
  47. Scriptores Astronomici veteres: Julius Firmicus
    Maternus, Mathesis and other Greek and Roman
    astronomical texts,Venice:Aldus Manutius, 1499
  48. a: La dance macabre des hommes, Paris,
    widow of Jehan Treperel and Jehan Jehannot,
    c. 1512-22 234

     b: La dance macabre des femmes toutes
    hystories & augmentee de nouveau, Paris,
    Jehan Treperel (II), c. 1525-32
  49. Martin Luther, Das newe testament deutzsch,
    Wittenberg: Melchior Lotter, 1524
  50. Aurelius Theodosius Macrobius, In somnium
    Scipionis libri II. Saturnaliorum libri VII.
    Basel: Johannes Herwagen the Elder, 1535

    Key to bibliographical references

A book of hours for a person of high rank, illuminated by painters of Jean, Duc de Berry

14 Book of hours, use of Rome

Manuscript on vellum, illuminated by Pseudo-Jacquemart. France, Paris, c. 1410.

230 x 160 mm. 201 leaves, complete: regular quires comprising eight bifolia, foliated. – Written space c. 85 x 75 mm, ruled for double columns in red, 16 lines. Text written in black ink in Textualis by the hand of one (?) scribe, rubricated in red. One-line initials in gold and line endings on an alternately blue and red ground. 7 small miniatures extending to one column and 8 lines, one full-page, 16 near-square miniatures, above three lines of text with full-page borders of gold ivy leaf and black ink tendrils and coloured acanthus, framed by a three-sided bar or by borders of spiralling acanthus. – On the miniature of the Virgin and Child (fol. 173v) the robe of the Virgin is partly smudged, otherwise in excellent condition. – 17th-century red morocco binding.

PROVENANCE: 1. In 1457 the book was owned by Jean d’Angennes II, Lord of Rambouillet and shield-bearer of Charles VII. (entries fol. 172v). Jean d’Angennes freed Mantes from English occupation, and was appointed governor there in 1422. 2. Edmond and Alexandrine Rothschild Collection. Their sale Paris, Palais Galliéra, 24 June 1968, lot 4. 3. Private collection, Europe.

TEXT: The book of hours contains the customary texts in the common order. It is written in double columns, an unusual text layout for this book type. It can be assumed that the few extant books of hours of this layout were commissioned by high-ranking individuals, probably members of the royal family. As the entries on fol. 172 suggest, the manuscript may have been a present from king Charles VII to his former shield-bearer (ecuyer) Jean d’Angennes acknowledging his special services.

ILLUMINATION: fol. 17v:Virgin and Child on a crescent moon – fol. 25: Annunciation – fol. 43: Visitation – fol. 52: Nativity – fol. 57: Annunciation to the Shepherds – fol. 61: Adoration of the Magi – fol. 65: Presentation – fol. 69: Flight into Egypt – fol. 75: Coronation of the Virgin – fol. 80: David in prayer – fol. 94: Crucifixion – fol. 99: Pentecost – fol. 104: Betrayal – fol. 136: Funeral Mass – fol. 173:Virgin and Child – fol. 178: Last Judgement. Smaller miniatures: fol. 110v: Christ before Pilate – fol. 114: Mocking of Christ – fol. 115: Flagellation – fol. 120:Way to Calvary – fol. 124: Crucifixion – fol. 129v: Deposition – fol. 133: Entombment. This book of hours represents an excellent work by Pseudo- Jacquemart who was responsible for 21 of the miniatures. One miniature can be attributed to the Egerton Master and another to the Luçon Master.These three well-known miniaturists worked principally for one of the greatest of all bibliophile collectors and connoisseurs of the fine arts, Jean, Duc de Berry (1340-1416). There has been much discussion of the possible identification of the main master with an illuminator whose name appears in archival documents: Jacquemart de Hesdin (Châtelet 2000, pp. 72-82). The view which has found broadest acceptance, however, regards him as a collaborator with the Jacquemart, a status which has won him the somewhat clumsy appellation ‘Pseudo- Jacquemart’ (Meiss 1967, Avril1 2004, p. 276). With his delicate forms and elegantly curved lines Pseudo-Jacquemart is a representative of the International Style, sensitive to the innovations of the younger generation working for the Duke, which he adapted in his own work, as well as the artistic achievements of Jacquemart and Jean le Noir. It is this capacity for adaptation which Jean de Berry, who repeatedly engaged him in the illumination of his books of hours, must have particularly appreciated. A ‘maître du recyclage’ (Avril), Pseudo-Jacquemart created finely drawn miniatures in a splendid palette (cf. esp. the Coronation of the Virgin, fol. 75). In the manuscript at hand he borrowed compositions by Jacquemart and Jean d’Orléans from the Brussels Hours (Brussels, BR, ms. 11060-61), the Très belles Heures (Paris, BN, nouv. acq. lat. 3093) and the Petites Heures (Paris, BN, lat. 18014) of the Duke of Berry as well as a miniature by the de Limbourg brothers from the Belles Heures (New York, Cloisters). Throughout his career, Pseudo-Jacquemart’s style and palette remained constant; delicate pastel shades are repeatedly used, scarlet and salmon pink being one of the artist’s favourite colour combinations. A warm, intense yellow may be regarded as something akin to a trade-mark of Pseudo-Jacquemart (Avril in Avril/Dunlop/Yapp 1989, p. 80). The miniature introducing the penitential psalms is by the Luçon Master,who owes his name to a missal which Etienne Loypeau, Bishop of Luçon, gave to Jean de Berry (Paris, BN, lat. 8886). He belonged to the younger generation of illuminators in the service of the Duke, but he often collaborated with Pseudo-Jacquemart (Avril1 2004, p. 15). The Egerton Master, who is stylistically indebted to Pseudo-Jacquemart, is the author of the Betrayal (fol. 104). He was named for the Hours of René d’Anjou of 1405-10, formerly in the collection of Francis Egerton, Earl of Bridgewater (London, BL, Egerton 1070, cf. Schilling 1954; Avril2 2004, no. 165). While for his miniature, rendered in a pointillé manner, he chose a wide bar as a frame, it is tempting to attribute to him also the acanthus borders surrounding the other miniatures. In the present manuscript the Egerton Master closely collaborated with Pseudo-Jacquemart; the Visitation (fol. 43) is also attributable to him, with the exception of the figures’ heads. Pseudo-Jacquemart worked for the Duke of Berry for more than three decades, between 1382 and 1415. Meiss classifies the present book of hours as his latest work; a date after 1410 is justified above all by its stylistic correspondences with the Grandes Heures (Paris, BN, lat. 919, cf. Meiss 1974, p. 359).The manuscript at issue thus is an important example of Parisian manuscript illumination at the beginning of the 15th century.

LITERATURE: Paris, Palais Galliéra, 24 June 1968, lot 4; Meiss 1968, p. 142, ill. 514, 517-518;Avril1 2004, ill. 7. Schilling 1954, pp. 272-282; Meiss 1967, pp. 179-191; Meiss 1972, pp. 13-22; Meiss 1974; Avril/Dunlop/Yapp 1989, p. 140; Châtelet 2000, pp. 72-82;Avril 20041, pp. 2-33; exh. cat. Paris 2004 (Avril2 2004), p. 203, 276f; König 2006, pp. 25-44.