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

CONTENTS

Manuscripts

  1. Glossed Gospels of St Luke and St John,
    Paris or northern France, c. 1210
  2. Psalter with calendar for the diocese of Trier,
    Germany,Trier, c. 1220-40
  3. Psalter and book of hours for the use of Paris,
    illuminated in the du Prat atelier, France, Paris,
    c. 1250-60
  4. Biblia latina, pocket bible, France, Paris, c. 1250
  5. Antiphonary, sanctoral volume, Italy,
    Emilia-Romagna, c. 1270-75
  6. Psalter for the use of Auxerre, France,
    Burgundy or Paris, c. 1300
  7. Antiphonary for a Franciscan convent,
    illuminated by Neri da Rimini, Italy,
    Emilia-Romagna, dated 1314
  8. Vita Sancti Antonii Eremitae – Inventio et
    Translatio, illuminated by the Maestro del 1328,
    Italy, Bologna, c. 1320
  9. Schönrainer Liederhandschrift. Middle High
    German Minnesang manuscript, Germany,
    Hesse, c. 1330
  10. Missale Romanum, illuminated in the workshop
    of Cristoforo Orimina, Italy, Naples, c. 1355
  11. Boethius, De consolatione philosophiae and
    Jean de Meun, Testament, France, Paris, c. 1400
  12. Guido de Columna, Historia destructionis Troiae
    and Giovanni Boccaccio, Il Filostrato, Italy,
    Naples, dated 1414 and 1413
  13. Book of hours for the use of Paris, illuminated
    by the workshop of the Bedford Master, France,
    Paris, c. 1405-10
  14. Compilation of pastoral and mystical texts
    from the library of the Celestines of Marcoussis,
    illuminated by the Hoo Master, France, Paris,
    c. 1425-35
  15. Book of hours for the use of Toul, illuminated
    by the Master of Pommersfelden 351, France,
    Toul or Metz, c. 1435-40
  16. Dominican hymnal, illuminated by the
    Master of 1446, Italy, Bologna, c. 1450
  17. Nicolaus de Lyra, Postilla litteralis super
    Vetus Testamentum, two volumes, Italy,
    Ferrara?, 1441-46
  18. Compilation of history bible and world chronicle,
    the Antichrist and the XV signs and other texts,
    Austria, c. 1450
  19. Book of hours and psalter in Dutch, illuminated
    by the Master of the Haarlem Bible, Masters of
    Otto von Moerdrecht, Masters of Gijsbrecht
    van Brederode et al., northern Netherlands,
    Haarlem, dated 1453
  20. Book of hours for the use of Rome, with
    calendar of Bruges, illuminated by the Master of
    Buchanan E.5, Flanders, Bruges, c. 1450-60
  21. Chronique anonyme universelle, parchment
    scroll, illuminated by the Master of Étienne
    Sauderat, France, Paris?, c. 1450 with additions
    after 1461 and 1467
  22. Psalter with hymnal, illuminated
    by the workshop of Bartolomeo Varnucci,
    Italy, Florence, c. 1460-70
  23. Martin Le Franc, L’Estrif de Fortune et de Vertu,
    illuminated by the Master of the Échevinage
    de Rouen, France, Rouen, c. 1465-75
  24. Book of hours for the use of Utrecht in the Dutch
    translation of Geert Grote, illuminated by one of
    the Masters of Gijsbrecht van Brederode, northern
    Netherlands, probably Utrecht, c. 1465-70
  25. Missale Fratrum Minorum for the convent
    of S. Francesco di Montone, near Perugia,
    illuminated by Bartelomeo and Giapeco
    Caporali, Italy, Perugia, 1469
  26. Book of hours for the use of Rome with
    adaptations for Poitiers and a calendar for
    Angers, illuminated by Maître François,
    France, Paris, c. 1470
  27. Psalter with hymnal, illuminated by the
    workshop of Mariano del Buono di Jacopo,
    Italy, Florence, c. 1470-75
  28. Book of hours for the use of Rome, illuminated
    by Martino da Modena, Italy, Ferrara, c. 1480-85
  29. Book of hours for Dominican use, illuminated
    by the workshop of Matteo Felice, Italy,
    Naples, c. 1480
  30. Giovanni Boccaccio, Elegia di Madonna
    Fiammetta, illuminated by Attavante degli
    Attavanti, Italy, Florence, c. 1480
  31. Book of hours for the use of Rome, Italy,
    Sicily or Naples, c. 1480-90
  32. Olivier de la Marche, Le chevalier délibéré and
    other texts, Flanders, c. 1484
  33. Prayerbook in German, Germany, Nuremberg,
    c. 1495-1500
  34. Fencing treatise with pen-and-ink drawings,
    southern Germany,Augsburg, c. 1490-1500
  35. Book of hours for the use of Paris in Latin
    and French, illuminated by an artist from the
    circle of Jean Pichore, France, Paris, c. 1500
  36. Passion prayerbook in Latin with a prayer for
    the Church of All Saints in Wittenberg, Flanders,
    Bruges, after 1517
  37. Diploma for Statilio Paolino on his award of a
    doctorate in law from the University of
    Perugia, Italy, Perugia, dated 29 October 1582
  38. Album with Italian, mainly Venetian, costumes and
    characters from the Commedia dell’Arte, Italy,
    Venice?, first quarter of the 17th century

    Miniatures

  39. Funeral mass for a dignitary, miniature from a
    breviary, France,Avignon, c. 1340-45 128
  40. A pope distributing the decretals, miniature from
    a manuscript of canon law, France, Languedoc,
    c. 1320
  41. The Adoration of the Magi, historiated initial ‘D’
    on a leaf from a missal, Italy, Siena, c. 1400-10
  42. Two martyr saints, historiated initial ‘P’ on a leaf
    from a gradual for Lucca Cathedral, illuminated by
    Martino di Bartolomeo. Italy, Lucca, c. 1394-95
  43. Investiture of St Clare on a cutting from a
    Franciscan antiphonary, Italy, Bologna or Veneto,
    c. 1430-40
  44. Trinity, historiated initial ‘G’ on a cutting from
    a choirbook, France, Savoy, c. 1450 138
  45. King David playing the psaltery, historiated
    initial ‘E’ on a leaf from a psalter, illuminated by
    Jacopo da Balsemo, Italy, Bergamo, c. 1450-55
  46. The Creation of Eve, historiated initial ‘I’ on a
    cutting from a choirbook, illuminated by
    Bonifacio Bembo, Italy, Lombardy, c. 1445
  47. Jesaia before the Almighty, historiated initial ‘A’
    on a leaf from an antiphonary, illuminated by
    a follower of the Maestro delle Vitae Imperatorum,
    Italy, Lombardy, c. 1460
  48. Batsheba bathing, miniature from the Hours of
    Guyot II Le Peley, illuminated by Jean Colombe,
    France, Bourges, c. 1480
  49. The miracle of St Michael on Mount Gargano,
    miniature from a choirbook, illuminated by
    Attavante degli Attavanti, Italy, Florence,
    between 1473 and 1502
  50. Christ taking leave of his mother, miniature
    mounted on wood, illuminated by Jacopo del
    Giallo?, Italy, Rome, c. 1540

    Key to bibliographical references

A fascinating example of a Flemish prayerbook produced for a German patron

36 Passion prayerbook in Latin with a prayer for the Church of All Saints in Wittenberg

Illuminated manuscript on vellum. Flanders, Bruges, after 1517.

225 x 165 mm. 100 leaves, complete: I-II8, III4, IV-V8,VI2, VII8+2,VIII8, IX-X8, XI4, XII-XIV8. Full-page miniatures on inserted singletons. Modern pencil foliation. – Written space: 130 x 88 mm, 20 lines to the page, ruled in red. Cursiva Formata (Bastarda) in black ink, versals partly stroked in yellow, rubrics in red, lombards in gold alternately on blue and red in some portions, numerous two- to six-line initials with branches. – 2 fullpage, 20 small miniatures, rich borders with trompe-l’œil-decoration. – Throughout in very fine condition. – Modern binding, light brown calf with marbled end papers, additional 2 vellum flyleaves at beginning and end, gilt edges, slip case with marbled paper.

PROVENANCE: 1. The prayer on fol. 97 indicates a connection of the first owner with Wittenberg, the favourite place of residence of Frederick the Wise (1463-1525), Elector of Saxony. The prayerbook may have been prepared for a wealthy member of the university of Wittenberg, which enjoyed an excellent reputation and attracted students from outside the Saxon territory as well. 2. Private collection France.

TEXT: fol. 1-38: Gospel lessons: 1-11v: Passion according to St Matthew (chapters 26-27); 12-20v: Passion according to St Marc (14-15); 21-28: Passion according to St John (18-19); 29-38: Passion according to St Luke (22-23) – fol. 40-48: Passion prayers – fol. 49: Cursus Sancti Bonaventura de Passione Domini nostri – fol. 49-65: Office for the Passion – fol. 65v-75: Psalms – fol. 77-81: Psalms und collects for emergencies, attributed to Athanasius of Alexandria – fol. 81v: Various prayers, indulgences – fol. 92v-95: Prayers to the Virgin – fol. 95v-96v: Prayers to St Anne, Sebastian and Gregory – fol. 96v-99: Various prayers including: Oratio dicenda in templo sanctorum omnium Wittemberge (fol. 97). According to the rubric on fol. 97 the ensuing prayer is to be recited in the Church of All Saints in Wittenberg. The Allerheiligenkirche, built between 1490 and 1511 by Frederick the Wise, is part of the castle complex, and it is this very church onto whose door Luther nailed his 95 theses in 1517, which marks the beginning of the Reformation.

ILLUMINATION: Full-page miniatures with full borders: fol. 39: Last Supper – fol. 47v: Christ as Man of Sorrows. Small miniatures with border on outer margin: fol. 1: St Matthew – fol. 12: St Marc – fol. 21: St John – fol. 29: St Luke – fol. 40: Christ at the Mount of Olives with full border – fol. 40v: Arrest of Christ – fol. 41: Christ before Pilate – fol. 41v: Christ before Hannas – fol. 42: Flagellation – fol. 42v: Crowning with thorns – fol. 43: Ecce Homo – fol. 43v: Pilate washing his hands – fol. 44: Carrying of the Cross – fol. 44v: Crucifixion with the Virgin and St John – fol. 45: Deposition – fol. 45v: Entombment – fol. 46: Christ descending into limbo – fol. 46v: Resurrection – fol. 94:Virgin on the crescent moon – fol. 95v: St Anne, the Virgin and Christ. At least two artists of the Ghent-Bruges school were involved in the illumination of this manuscript. The first illuminator was responsible for the small vignettes and the miniature of the Last Supper. The borders strewn with naturalistically rendered plants and animals may likewise have been executed by him. He is stylistically indebted to the so-called Master of George Talbot, named after a manuscript in Oxford (Bodleian Library, ms. Gough liturg. 7), whose œuvre includes the illumination of ms. Capponi 218 of the Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana, ms. lat. 166 of the Bibliothèque nationale in Paris and cod. ser. n. 13238 of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek in Vienna (cf.Thoss 1987, no. 76, pp. 116-117). Just like tiny panel paintings the small miniatures are set within frames imitating carved wood. Despite their small dimensions they are remarkable for their expressivity emphasized by the use of close-up views resulting in frequent overlappings with the frames. The illuminator repeatedly drew on compositions circulating in the workshops of Ghent and Bruges. Thus e.g. Christ before Hannas, a comparatively rare representation, appears for the first time in the prayerbook of James IV, illuminated between 1503 and 1513 (Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Cod. 1897, fol. 203). Between 1525 and 1530, thus probably some years after our manuscript, Simon Bening re-used this composition in his prayerbook for Cardinal Albrecht of Brandenburg (Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum, ms. Ludwig IX 19, fol. 119v). Similarly, the central group of the Arrest of Christ, especially the figure grappling Christ by his chest, goes back to a composition in the Berlin Hours of Mary of Burgundy (Kupferstichkabinett, 78 B 12, fol. 114; Euw/Plotzek 1982, vol. 2, pp. 286-313; König et al. 1998) and was again copied by Bening in the prayerbook of Cardinal Albrecht. The two full-page miniatures are likewise based on compositions by other artists. For the Last Supper the woodcut of Dürer’s Small Passion (B. 24) served as model. The second artist, whose representation of Christ as Man of Sorrows is the most beautiful miniature of the entire manuscript, copied an engraving by Lucas van Leyden (B. 76). Its principal stylistic properties, the delicately modelled body of Christ, the sorrowful expression of his face and the small drapery folds, are faithfully translated into the medium of illumination thus preserving the impressive quality of the model, yet rendering difficult any attempt of a stylistic attribution of this miniature to a known artist.The miniature is, however, interesting from another point of view, as the date of publication of Lucas van Leyden’s Man of Sorrows, the year 1517, provides a terminus post quem for the illumination of our prayerbook.

LITERATURE: The manuscript is hitherto unpublished. Euw/Plotzek 1982, vol. 2, pp. 286-313; Thoss 1987; König et al. 1998; Kren/McKendrick 2003.