Giorgio d`Alemagna (documented 1441-1462) - photo 1
Giorgio d`Alemagna (documented 1441-1462) - photo 2

Giorgio d`Alemagna (documented 1441-1462)

Lot 13
13.12.2023 11:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 9 450
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
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ID 1105673
Lot 13 | Giorgio d'Alemagna (documented 1441-1462)
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
Giorgio d'Alemagna (documented 1441-1462)

Uzziah, King of Judah, and King Ahasuerus, husband of Esther, two historiated initials on a leaf from the Breviary of Lionello d'Este, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Ferrara, c.1441-1448]

A sumptuous leaf from the Breviary of Lionello d'Este — also known as the Llangattock Breviary — with two exquisite historiated initials, in impeccable condition.



272 x 200mm. Two columns of 30 lines written in brown ink in a gothic bookhand, the text from the 4th Sunday and 5th Sundays in September, with readings from Judith and Esther: 'Conforta me rex sanctorum principatum tenens' to '[...] cumque implerentur dies convivii invitavit omnem [populum qui inventus est]', rubrics in red, one two-line illuminated initial, full-length bar borders of burnished gold terminating with floral and sprays, two five-line historiated initials (light marginal thumbing, but in pristine condition).



Provenance:

(1) All aspects of the manuscript – size, format and illumination – correspond to those of the Missal of Borso d'Este, marquis and then duke of Ferrara (Modena, Biblioteca Estense, Ms W.5.2, lat. 239) and the Breviary was certainly made either for him or his predecessor Lionello, and intended, like the Missal, for use in the ruler’s chapel. It is now usually identified with the Breviary recorded in accounts in the d’Este archives as having been illuminated for Lionello by Giorgio d’Alemagna, Bartolomeo di Benincà, Guglielmo Giraldi and Matteo de' Pasti.



(2) The parent manuscript was sold at Christie’s, 8 December 1958, lot 190, as part of the estate of the 2nd Baron Llangattock. It carried the bookplate of John Etherington Welch Rolls (1807-1870), father of the 1st Baron Llangattock. Many miniatures had already been removed (supposedly by soldiers during the Peninsular War) and after the sale the remaining leaves were separated and dispersed. Sister leaves were sold recently at Christie’s, 30 July 2020, lot 3; and 5-19 October 2023, lots 205 and 206.



(3) This leaf sold at Sotheby's, 7 July 2015, lot 26.



Illumination:

The Breviary, a masterpiece of Ferrarese illumination, was written by Francesco de Codigoro, with Giorgio d’Alemagna as its principal illuminator, but in 1443, because of the enormity of the project, Giorgio enlisted the help of Bartolomeo de Benincà, Matteo de’ Pasti (a pupil of Pisanello) and Guglielmo Giraldi. The quality and luminosity of the historiated initials in the present leaf – in particular the one depicting Uzziah, with his finely modelled face and beard and sprays of gilt highlighting upon his robes – doubtless ranks among the best work carried out in this famous manuscript. The most comprehensive recent study of the Breviary is F. Toniolo, ‘Il lungo viaggio del Breviario di Lionello d'Este tra le due sponde dell'Atlantico’, Medioevo: arte e storia, 2008, pp.564-77 (see also Toniolo in Les Enluminures du Louvre, 2011, no 45). A virtual reconstruction of the manuscript can be found on the 'Broken Books' website (brokenbooks.omeka.net), where the present leaf is listed.

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