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

Cristoforo Cortese (fl.c.1390-1445)

Lot 15
14.12.2022 10:30UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 2 268
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 870805
Lot 15 | Cristoforo Cortese (fl.c.1390-1445)
Estimate value
£ 2 000 – 3 000
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]

A charming example of the meticulous, accomplished work of the Venetian illuminator Cristoforo Cortese.



440 x 310mm (visible). The initial 'D' opening Psalm 26 '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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No VAT on hammer price or buyer's premium.
Place of origin:Italy, Europe
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
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10.12.2022 – 13.12.2022
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