Title: Leaf From an Extravagantly Illuminated Book of Hours, Paris, Circa 1440-1460. Folio 81 from the Hours of the Virgin. Masterfully Illuminated Manuscript by Jean Hancelin and the Master of Saint Stephen
Author: Jean Hancelin (active Paris 1435-1460); Master of Saint Stephen, Formerly the Dunois Master (active Paris, c. 1440-1460)
Condition: Very Good
A manuscript leaf from a mid 15th century illuminated Book of Hours, produced in France, Paris.
This leaf is derived from a Book of Hours produced in Paris ca. 1440–1460 by Jean Haincelin and the so-called Master of Saint Stephen. Formerly known as the Dunois Master and also as the Chief Associate of the Bedford Master, Jean Haincelin is most likely the son of Haincelin de Haguenau, court illuminator of Louis, duc de Guyenne. The Master of Saint Stephen is his most able collaborator and follower. The manuscript reflects the collaboration between two of the most accomplished illuminators working in the Parisian milieu during the reign of Charles VII and, in this instance, for a patron in Rouen, as suggested by the liturgical use. Both artists were closely associated with the court and produced manuscripts of exceptional refinement for high-ranking ecclesiastical and aristocratic patrons. Among the most celebrated examples of their work are the Dunois Hours (London, British Library, Yates Thompson MS 3) and the Hours of Étienne Chevalier (Chantilly, Musée Condé, MS 71). The Master of Saint Stephen, a member of Haincelin’s workshop, was named by Catherine Reynolds in 2006 after the Life of Saint Stephen miniature in the Salisbury Breviary (Paris, BnF, MS lat. 17294, f. 529v). The artist is also discussed by Elliot Adam in his unpublished thesis (2023, pp. 379-80)
This leaf exemplifies the courtly elegance of these masters, distinguished by rubrics in liquid gold, a vibrant and harmonious color palette, and meticulously executed foliate borders. The decorative program includes illusionistic potted flowers placed within gold-structured compartments—an especially refined motif not commonly encountered outside high-end commissions. The interplay of acanthus, floral sprays, and gilded ivy on black filaments further underscores the manuscript’s luxurious production.
The present leaf, numbered folio 81, contains portions of Compline from the Hours of the Virgin.
The leaf has several gold line-fillers in red, blue and white against burnished gold backgrounds, and there are numerous 1-2 line initials on blue and burgundy backgrounds, 3-line initials in gold for introducing major textual divisions, and am extravagant, full border composed of blue and gold acanthus vines interwoven with sprays of naturalistic flowers, fruit, and seed pods on delicate black hairline stems, punctuated with burnished gold ivy leaves.
The provenance of this leaf is that of a Book of Hours made for the Use of Rouen, rebound in the eighteenth century with an unidentified French(?) armorial bookplate, later ending up in a private California collection.
The parent manuscript was sold at sold at Sotheby’s London, 5 December 2000, lot 62, misbound and missing many leaves (including all but two of the miniatures), illuminated by the Dunois Master and his follower the St. Stephen Master, and broken up shortly thereafter. A gathering of text leaves was sold at Sotheby’s London, 19 June 2001, lot 13; with several other text leaves sold at Christie’s London, 11 July 2002, lot 5; and a single text leaf was sold at Christie’s London, 15 December 2021, lot 16; two miniatures sold at Christie’s London, 9 December 2020, lots 27 and 28; Bloomsbury London, 6 December 2017, lots 63–64, two text leaves; and lastly Bloomsbury London, 2 July 2019, lot 34, a single text leaf. There are also two leaves offered for sale by Dr. Jorn Gunther, each priced for 3950 Euros, or 4640 USD.
One illuminated manuscript on vellum, 19 x 14 cm
This manuscript is in very good shape, with minimal rubbing or wear to the vellum, and extraction marks from where the leaf was excised.