TEXT FROM THE HOURS OF THE PASSION

A MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF FROM A BOOK OF HOURS IN LATIN, WITH A MINIATURE OF THE CRUCIFIXION BY THE WORKSHOP OF MAÎTRE FRANÇOIS

Published by ca. 1475, Northern France, 1475

About this Item

150 x 113 mm. (5 7/8 x 4 3/8"). Single column, 16 lines (on verso) in a gothic book hand. Attractively matted. Rubrics in dark pink, line fillers in blue and dark pink with gold bezants, three one-line initials in gold on blue and pink ground, two two-line initials and one three-line initial in blue and filled with colorful foliage on burnished gold ground, A HALF-PAGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURE OF THE CRUCIFIXION BY MAÎTRE FRANÇOIS OR HIS WORKSHOP, the text and miniature with bar border on three sides decorated with colorful foliage on burnished gold, and surrounded by a full border of acanthus leaves, dense rinceaux, colorful fruit and flowers, gold ivy leaves, and bezants, the verso with a similar panel border. â Vellum faintly soiled, minor rubbing to some of the gilt, miniature with very slight erosion, but a very attractive leaf, with a well-preserved, vibrantly colored painting. This is a well painted, stirring depiction of the Crucifixion, the artist depicting Christ hanging limply from the cross as his blood rains from multiple places down upon a tense scene developing below. With the crucifix positioned in the middle of the composition, the picture plane is divided in two, with Christ's followers on the left, and those with all the money and power on the right. The left side is decidedly more poised and contemplative, with just two figures--St. John the Evangelist and the Virgin--quietly comforting each other. A more chaotic scene takes place on the right: a man holding a shield and a centurion bearing a scroll inscribed "VERE FILIUS DEI ERAT ISTE" (testifying that Christ "was truly the son of God," and reflecting the terror felt at the earthquake that accompanied the crucifixion) gesture with animation toward Christ, while a throng of soldiers in metal helmets and carrying spears gather behind them. By dividing the picture plane in this way, the artist creates a sense of dynamic tension, charging an already emotional scene with heightened drama. This miniature was likely executed in the workshop of the so-called Maître François, who ran a highly successful Parisian atelier during the years between 1460-80, producing illuminated manuscripts small and large, sacred and secular. Characteristic of the Master's style are richly colored scenes, women and children with pale, porcelain complexions, and male figures with darker, weathered flesh tones. The level of artistry in this miniature is notable, displaying very fine molding and drapery executed with a sensitive touch. Seller Inventory # ST19653-196

Bibliographic Details

Title: TEXT FROM THE HOURS OF THE PASSION

Publisher: ca. 1475, Northern France

Publication Date: 1475