ID 993378
Lot 24 | Anonymous French illuminator
Estimate value
£ 700 – 1 000
The Virgin and Child, historiated initial ‘S’ on a leaf with a panel border from an illuminated manuscript Book of Hours on vellum [France, c.1490]
A charming leaf from a French Book of Hours.
120 x 100 mm, single leaf, 18 lines in a fine bâtarde script, the large 8-line historiated initial ‘S’ with a panel border of acanthus and semi-naturalistic flowers opening the introit at the beginning of the Mass of the Virgin, ‘Salve sancta parens […]’, 18 small illuminated initials, line-fillers, the large initial depicting a half-length Virgin holding the Child, on a cloud, in a landscape, stuck to a sheet with a caption in black ink (see Provenance) (a little cockled, the margins darkened through contact with the mount). Mounted and framed.
Provenance:
(1) John William Bradley (1830–1916), influential manuscript historian: from one of two albums incorporating cuttings collected by him, later owned and supplemented by:
(2) William Charles Fewtrell (1868–1959/60), book collector, of Liverpool, the mount inscribed in his characteristic handwriting (see Peter Kidd's entry for 6 June 2020 at mssprovenance.blogpost.com); sold at Sotheby’s, 10 November 1952, lot 22, to Edwards.
Special notice
This lot is offered without reserve.
| Place of origin: | Western Europe, France, Europe |
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| Auction house category: | Medieval & renaissance manuscripts |
| Place of origin: | Western Europe, France, Europe |
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| Auction house category: | Medieval & renaissance manuscripts |
| Address of auction |
CHRISTIE'S 8 King Street, St. James's SW1Y 6QT London United Kingdom | |
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| Phone | +44 (0)20 7839 9060 | |
| Buyer Premium | see on Website | |
| Conditions of purchase | Conditions of purchase |





