Masters of the Beady Eyes - photo 1
Masters of the Beady Eyes - photo 2
Masters of the Beady Eyes - photo 3

Masters of the Beady Eyes

Sold
£ 1 071
Auction dateClassic
12.07.2023 00:00UTC +01:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
United Kingdom, London
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 993148
Lot 13 | Masters of the Beady Eyes
Masters of the Beady Eyes

The Crucifixion, historiated initial ‘C’ cut from a choirbook, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Flanders, mid 15th century]

A vibrant cutting by the Masters of the Beady Eyes, named from their distinctive manner of delineating eyes with firm dark lines and a beady dot.



86 x 74mm., a cutting, the reverse with part of two lines of text and music on four-line red staves, with an enlarged initial in blue with red penwork, comprising parts of John 12:33, ‘qua morte esset’, and John 3:14, ‘Sicut Mo[yses exaltavit]’, the initial depicting Christ on the Cross, Mary and John to either side, both with hands clasped as if in prayer, set before a lush landscape with a river, the scribe’s guide-letter ‘C’ showing through the pigment to the left of Christ’s belly, the initial probably for a feast of the Invention or Exaltation of the Cross, e.g. ‘Crux fidelis inter omnes arbor’ or ‘Crux benedicta nitet dominus’ (wisps of white clouds oxidised to black, trimmed close to the edge of the initial, otherwise in good condition), framed.



Illumination:

The simple style is like that of the so-called Masters of the Beady Eyes who worked in Ghent in the third quarter of the 15th century, and were thus contemporary with Willem Vrelant in Bruges. A very unusual detail is the ermine lining of John’s cloak.





Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve.
Place of origin:Belgium, Western Europe, Europe
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
12.07.2023 – 12.07.2023
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

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