Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c. 1390-1445) - photo 1
Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c. 1390-1445) - photo 2

Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c. 1390-1445)

Starting price
£ 3 000
Auction dateClassic
13.07.2022 10:30UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 794432
Lot 12 | Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c. 1390-1445)
Cristoforo Cortese (fl.c.1390-1445)

A prophet pointing to his eyes, historiated initial 'D' on a leaf from an illuminated choirbook on vellum [Veneto, second quarter 15th century]

An excellent example of the meticulous, accomplished work of the Venetian illuminator Cristoforo Cortese.



440 x 310mm (visible). The initial 'D' opening Psalm 27 'Dominus illuminatio mea' for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost, 8 lines of text and music on 4-line staves in red, rubrics in red and initials in blue with red infill and red with brown infill, reverse with contemporary foliation 'ccxviii' in red. Mounted and framed.



Provenance:

(1) Dr Michael Berolzheimer (1866-1942), Fürth, Munich and Untergrainau, Germany, and Mount Vernon, New York.

(2) Private Collection, USA; by descent from the above.



Illumination:

The miniature is stylistically associable to Cristoforo Cortese, the most accomplished Venetian illuminator of the early 15th century. His only signed work is the choirbook initial with the Death of St Francis (Paris, Mus. Marmottan, no 68) all other attributions, including woodcuts and tapestry designs, depend on this. He undertook many commissions for the scuole or lay confraternities of Venice, for example the opening folio of a rule-book with the Virgin of Mercy and confraternity members (c.1422: Paris, Mus. Marmottan, no 78) and contributed to many choir books in Venice and the Veneto; some of his finest work being in a Gradual in Milan (Milan, Bib. Nazionale Braidense, MS AB XVII.28). The present miniature is similar to a cutting from a Gradual with a half-length bearded prophet, sold at Christie's, 23 November 2010, lot 4.





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This lot is offered without reserve.
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13.07.2022 – 13.07.2022
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