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Title: Book of Hours, use of Paris, Circa 1480-1490. Illuminated Manuscript on Parchment from France. Master of the Cluny Romuleon. 1 Large Miniature, 8 Smaller Miniatures, 2 Historiated Initials. Beautiful Illuminated Decorative Borders to every Leaf, and a Smaller One to Each Side
Artist: Master of the Cluny Romuleon
Condition: Very Good
A late 15th century illuminated Book of Hours, inscribed in a flowing bastarda gothic script, produced in Paris, and brilliantly illuminated by a French Master, the Master of the Cluny Romuléon, with a suite of 9 miniatures, and two historiated initials.
The style of the Cluny Romuléon is recognized by the rounded square-shape of the face, the reddish flesh-tones of the male figures, and the abundant use of liquid gold with vivid colors. The miniature of Job on the Dungheap features thin brushstrokes, and the gold arches framing the small miniatures are characteristic of his early productions.
If compared to the manuscript of Jacques de Cessole’s Jeu des échecs moralisés (Paris, BnF, MS fr. 2000; see Avril and Reynaud 1993, no. 213, p. 376), one can see some close similarities, which also helps to cement the date as that manuscript was illuminated from the early 1480s. Several of these miniatures also rely on models used in a Book of Hours for the use of Langres in New York (Morgan Library and Museum, MS M.26).
Although he was first named Master of Morgan 26 by John Plummer in 1982, he was later renamed by François Avril after scattered fragments of a Romuléon in the translation by Jean Miélot (Paris, Musée de Cluny, inv. 804, inv. 1819; see Delaunay 2000). As many of his clients originate from Eastern France, it is possible that his career could have begun in Lorraine or Champagne, but he seems to have been active in Paris early on. The Master being active in the mid-1480s is further demonstrated by the liturgical use, textual content, and secondary decoration of the present manuscript, which favors compartmented borders reflecting the parallel trends of manuscript illumination in late-fifteenth century Paris.
This Book of Hours is written in a 16-line format, with the Calendar written in a 16-format.
This Book of Hours is illuminated throughout, with 1 large three-quarter page miniature, brightly illuminated and shining. To the borders are acanthus sprouts and colored flowers on alternating blank and liquid gold ground within heart compartments, and there is a large four-line initial below. There are 8 smaller square miniatures as well each, accompanied with a full illuminated border. There are also two 4 to 5-line historiated initials. Each and every single leaf is decorated with a one-sided floral border, associating a short composition of gold vine leaves and colored flowers on the versos, with a larger panel border of the same between two red rules on the rectos. There are hundreds of 1 and 2-line illuminated initials on a red and blue background, as well as numerous red and blue line fillers throughout, all enhanced with illumination.
The miniatures are as followed, starting with the large example:
Folio 126r depicts Job on the Dungheap
The smaller miniatures and two historiated initials are as such:
Folio 14v depicts Saint Luke
Folio 16r depicts Saint Matthew
Folio 18r depicts Saint Mark
Folio 19r depicts a historiated initial O of Pietà
Folio 23v depicts a historiated initial of the Virgin and Child
Folio 53v depicts the Visitation
Folio 66r depicts the Nativity
Folio 72v depicts the Annunciation to the Shepherds
Folio 85v Flight into Egypt
Folio 93r Coronation of the Virgin
This Book of Hours, is structed in the following form:
ff 1-12v contains the Calendar
ff. 13-19 contains the Gospel of John and a continuation of the Gospels of Luke, Matthew and Mark
ff 19-25v contains the Obsecro te
ff 25-26v contains the O Intemerata
ff 27-95v contains the Hours of the Virgin, comprising of Lauds, Prime, Terce, Thirds, Sexts, Nones, Vespers, and Compline
ff 96-109 contains the Seven Penitential Psalms
ff 109-118v contains the Litany and Prayers
ff 119-123v contains the Hours of the Cross
ff 123v is blank
ff 124-125v again, contains the Hours of the Holy Spirit
ff 124-181v contains the Office of the Dead
This manuscript bears several notes of provenance, the first being to folios 118v-119, a prayer was added in an early sixteenth-century hand, presumably because the following leaf was already missing. To the front flyleaf is an ownership inscription for one Abbot Loreau of Dijon, given to him on 3 May 1765, as a gift from John Conyers. There is also the bookplate of John Conyers (1717-1775), member of the Parliament of Great Britain, his library at Copt Hall, Essex. Lastly, there is the provenance of Aline Thorold (1869-1951) at The Wood House, who passed the manuscript on to Barbara Dorothy Wythes (1896-1984), until finally, Aline Mary Margaret (1923-2023).
A 17th century hand has penciled the foliation up to 181. If this is correct, about 7 leaves appear to be lacking: 5 with large miniatures, and 2 with smaller ones.
One illuminated manuscript in 12mo, 174 leaves on parchment
This manuscript is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the binding. The vellum is slightly cockled, with minor, scattered staining and ink transfers, a minor flake to the miniature on ff 53v, and a bit of damp staining to ff1-2.