Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators - photo 1
Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators - photo 2
Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators - photo 3

Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators

Lot 86
12.12.2022 00:00UTC +00:00
Classic
Sold
£ 8 190
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUnited Kingdom, London
Buyer Premiumsee on Website%
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 869493
Lot 86 | Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators
Estimate value
£ 4 000 – 6 000
Vincent of Beauvais (d. 1264); Anoymous Parisian illuminators
The Emperor Henry V in a historiated initial on a bifolium from Speculum historiale, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, Paris, early 14th century].
A rare example of a major historiated initial on a bifolium of a secular text, the most popular medieval encyclopaedia.

Each leaf c.370 x 263mm. Written in two columns of 50 lines (a capitula list further subdivided into two columns), the text comprising part of the end of Book 26 (chapters 130–32) and beginning of Book 27 (chapters 1–4), with a gap between them (‘et tria milia et quingentos viros […] Quod si patrum opera dimitterent et de’ and ‘|to et in ordinato […] Sed et reverentis’), the start of Book 27 with the rubric ‘De imperio Henrici quinti et carta caritatis’ and a large historiated initial, the running headings with the book number ‘L[iber] XXVI’ and headings ‘Disputatio Petri Alfunsi’ [sic] or ‘L[iber] XXVII’ and ‘Tempora Henrici quinti’ (recovered from use as a book-cover, with consequent creases and some darkening and a few later marginal inscriptions, mostly erased, the initial somewhat rubbed, but overall in fair condition)

Provenance:
Colker MS 137; acquired from Renzo Rizzi in 1968.

Illumination:
The fine initial illustrates the beginning of Book 27, and depicts Henry V, with imperial crown and sword, approached by crippled beggars, watched by a crowd, all below a gold reliquary; marginal extensions occupy three margins, incorporating a hunting-dog chasing a rabbit. Prof. Alison Stones kindly tells us that the closest comparison is in Paris, BnF, MS. lat. 4900, f.109v, which depicts the Emperor pointing out relics to cripples and other people, but that surprisingly few copies of the text have historiated initials at all, and so this is an important example. She places it with her ‘Paris, c.1300–1310 and later’ group of Speculum historiale manuscripts: Alison Stones, Gothic Manuscripts: 1260–1320, Part Two, A survey of manuscripts illuminated in France, 2 vols (London & Turnhout, 2014), II, pp. 259–62 and 266.


The Speculum historiale (Mirror of History), is a history of the world to the 1240s, forming the third part of Vicent’s Speculum maius (Great Mirror), a vast encyclopedia that attempted to encompass all forms of knowledge: the first two parts concern scientific knowledge, in the Speculum naturale (Mirror of Nature), and human affairs, in the Speculum doctrinale (Mirror of Doctrine).
Place of origin:France
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
8 King Street, St. James's
SW1Y 6QT London
United Kingdom
Preview
28.11.2022 – 12.12.2022
Phone +44 (0)20 7839 9060
Email
4FQ.AYGKAGLUQ@FO3G@
Buyer Premium see on Website
Conditions of purchaseConditions of purchase

Related terms

Frequently asked questions

First of all, you should register to be able to purchase at auction. After confirming your email address, enter your personal information in your user profile, such as your first name, last name, and mail address. Choose a lot from the upcoming auction and the maximum amount you want to place on it. After confirmation of your choice, we will send your application by e-mail to the appropriate auction house. If the auction house accepts a request, it will participate in the auction. You can view the current status of a bid at any time in your personal account in the "Bids" section.
Auctions are performed by auction houses and each of the auction houses describes their terms of auction. You can see the texts in the section "Auction information".
The results of the auction are published within a few days after the end of the auction. In the top menu of the site, find the tab "Auctions". Click on it and you will be on the auction catalog page, where you can easily find the category "Results". After opening it, select the desired auction from the list, enter and view the current status of the interested lot.
The information about the auction winners is confidential. The auction winner will receive a direct notification from the auction house responsible with instructions for further action: an invoice for payment and the manner in which the goods will be received.
Each of the auction houses has its own payment policy for the won lots. All auction houses accept bank transfers, most of them accept credit card payments. In the near future you will find detailed information for each case in the section "Auction information" on the page of the auction catalog and the lot.
Shipment of the won lot depends on its size. Small items can be delivered by post. Larger lots are sent by courier. Employees of the auction houses will offer you a wide range to choose from.
No. The archive serves as a reference for the study of auction prices, photographs and descriptions of works of art.