[Book of Hours.

Format
Manuscript, Book
Language
Dutch
Published/​Created
Northern Netherlands and Bruges. 1484].
Description
  • ii, 224, iii manuscript leaves on vellum. hand-painted miniatures and borders, col. penwork. 22 x 15.3 cm.
  • COLLATION: gatherings mostly of 8 leaves with full-page miniatures on inserted singletons: i4 (ff. 1-4), ii10 (ff. 5-14); iii8 + one (f. 15, full-page miniature) before 1 (ff. 15-23), iv8 wants 6 (cancelled after f. 28: ff. 24-30), v8 wants 7 (cancelled after f. 36: ff. 31-37),m vi8 (ff. 38-45), vii6 (ff. 46-51); viii8 + one (f. 52, full page miniature) before 1 (ff. 52-60), ix-x8 (ff. 61-76), xi4 (ff. 77-80); xii10 wants 10 (cancelled after f. 89: ff. 81-89) [cut-down miniature of the Gnadenstuhl Trinity, now inserted loose among the fly leaves, was originally inserted before f. 81], xiii8 (ff. 90-97), xiv4 (ff. 98-101); xv8 wants 8 (cancelled after f. 109) + one (f. 102 , inserted full-page miniature) before 1 (ff. 102-109),xvi-xvii8 (ff. 110-125);' xviii8 wants 8 (cancelled after f. 132: ff. 126-132), xix-xx8 (ff. 133-148); xxi8 (ff. 149-156); xxii8 wants 8 (cancelled after f. 163: ff. 157-163), xxiii-xxv6 (ff. 164-181); xxvi8 wants 8 (cancelled after f. 189) + one (f. 182, full-page miniature) before 1 (ff. 182-189), xxvii-xxviii8 (ff. 190-205), xxix6 (ff. 206-211), xxx4 + one (f. 216) after 4 (ff. 212-216); xxxi8 (ff. 217-224) = 224 leaves (plus a cut-down miniature of the Gnadenstuhl Trinity, formerly inserted before f. 81, now inserted loose among the flyleaves). As shown by stubs, lacks two full-page miniatures formerlyinserted before f. 126 (Hundred Articles of the Passion, subject uncertain) and f. 157 (Seven Penitential Psalms, subject uncertain). The full-page miniature of the Crucifixion on f. 52v is partly damaged from a water stain; otherwise in excellent condition with only minimal signs of wear.

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    Details

    Ill
    Notes
    • sewing cracked, spine def. lacking a clasp and a mount
    • Unpublished and previously unrecorded book of hours, one of the largest ever made in the Northern Netherlands and the most elaborately decorated work known in the style of the Monkey Master. See complete Commentary below.
    • ADDITION TO THE MANUSCRIPT: A small rectangular column miniature, which was excised from a Latin manuscript of the late 15th century, is pasted onto the lower margin of fol. 1r; measuring ca 44/43 x 38 cm, it depicts a bearded figure (a prophet?) kneeling in prayer in a landscape before a shining sun or orb, and has the letter "D" in the upper right corner. A miniature of approximately the same dimensions appears to have been pasted onto the lower margin of fol. 2r, but has now been removed, leaving only offsets from the Latin script on its reverse side.
    • Ruled in brown (single vertical and lower horizontal bounding lines, double upper horizontal bounding lines, all full across, except for gathering 20 [ff. 141-148] which is ruled in single bounding lines full across) for one column of 20 lines, ca 114/116 x 73/78 mm.
    • Written in textura. Capitals stroked with red, red rubrics. Sketches of small heads which appear in the right margin of f. 73r and the upper left corner of f. 147r are in ink similar to that of the script and may have been executed by the scribe.
    • 1-2 line initials alternate gold on purple pen-flourish fields with blue on red pen-flourish fields, with some of the fields of the two-line initials partially infilled in green. The 1-line initial at the upper right corner of the column miniature commencing the Hours of the Virgin (f. 16r) is in cameo-gray on a brown field with gold highlighting. Most 3-4 line initials are in blue or blue openwork on red pen-flourish fields partially infilled with green, or gold on purple pen-flourish fields partially infilled with green. 4-6 line initials commencing some prayes or lessons are in blue openworkon red pen-flourish fields partially infilled with green and touched with yellow, or in gold on blue fields reserving foliate designs (f. 149r) or with yellow foliate tracery (f. 217r). 4-5 line initials commencing ours other than Matins and Lauds are in foliate blue, purple or pink on rectangular gold fields, some with yellow tracery, and most enclosing painted foliage and flowers or red fields with gold tracery. On leaves with 2-3 line initials, the pen-flourishes of the fields of the initials are extended along the left side of the text column, sometimes also including flourished forms in both colors, red and purple (e.g. f. 215r) and "aubergines" among the foliate forms. The pen-flourishes on leaves with 4-6 line initials commencing prayers and some lessons extend along the left side and partly acaross the upper and lower margins, and are elaborated into foliate forms frequently including "aubergines" (bulbous, eggplant like forms which emerge from the foliage on leaves with relatively elaborate pen-flourishes) and occasionally also dragons (f. 163r); some are in two colors (purple and red on leaves with gold initials and blue and red on some with blue initials), and two (ff. 149r and 217r) are in all three colors, blue, red and purple, and incorporate dragons and "aubergines." Leaves with 4-5 line initials commencing the hours other than Matins and Lauds have panel borders in the margins: those on rectos have a baguette along the left side of the text column, with alternating, solid blue and red curvilinear demi-brackets along the left side of the baguette, and have gold, silver or painted panel borders the width of the text column in the upper and lower margins, with yellow, white or gold traceryor dots and trompe l'oeil decoration of painted foliage and flowers (some arranged in geometric patterns), birds, animals and grotesques; those on versos have decorated panel borders of the same type in the three outer margins. The figural decoration of these painted borders is noteworthy for their scenes of monkeys and foxes reading, preaching and otherwise shown in active poses. The manuscript is dated in an inscription written in alternating passages of red and blue Gothic letters and prominently placed on a scroll coiled around the foliage in the margin of fol. 119v: "int. iaer. ons. heren dusent .C.C.C.C. vier. ende. lxxx wort ghemaect dit boeck." Leaves commencing major new texts and those with facing full-page miniatures have decoration in all four margins of gold or painted panel borders (some arranged in geometric patterns) with trompe l'oeil decoration of painted and gold foliage and flowers, insects and birds.
    • BINDING: original brown calf over boards, blind (worn at the edges and at the top of the spine, spine partly split and loose at the lower cover); triple fillets framing and forming a central diapered rectangle incorporating small stamps of fleurs-de-lisin circles (the largest measuring 9mm. in idameter) and lozenges, various flowers and six-pointed stars (some in circles), with stamps of a small coat of arms, caa 7 x 6 mm., bearing a charge of two bars counter-embattled, at the center of the top and lower frames; original sewing on 5 raised bands; plain wound, natural colore endbands sewn on cores laid in grooves on the outside of the boards, with remains of red and green tiedowns; edges gilt and colored; with three of the original four silver-gilt fastenings (lacking the upper fastening on hte lower cover, with a design of a raised fleur-de-lis, one of the pearl-adorned clasps lacking, the other loose.
    • CONTENTS: 1. ff. 1r-12v Calendar of utrechtin red and brown, full. Augustinus bisscop is entered in red (August 28) [ff. 13-14 blank].
    • 2. ff. 16r-51v Hours of the Virgin: Hier beghinnet onser liever vrouwen ghetide in duutschen te metten tijt Explicit, f. 50r: Hier eyndet onser liever vrouwen ghetide. concludes with a Suffrage and Confession after a blank line on f. 50r: (a) ff. 50r-51r Suffrace to st. Barbara: Hier beghint een scoen ghebet vander heiligher maget sinte barbara. Suverlijck bistu heilighe maghet barbara gheheiten Die uter letter dijns naems beduut wortste een goedertieren voerspreecster caer besculdigher Ghebenedijt vande coninck daer engelen... + Oracio [version of Meettens, VI, 2ter, 6a]; (b) f. 51rv Confession: Hier beghinnett den duutschen confuter ende is sonderlinghe guet ghelesen wantmen leiter die dagelicse sonden mede af ende dootliken sonden die vergeten sijn. Ick sal ingaen totten outaer gods tott gode die blide maket mijn ioecht beliet hem want hi guet is want in eewicheit is sijn ontfarmherticheit Ghewaerdighe heer in desen daghe ons te behueden sonder sonde... [Introibo ad altare dei... and Confiteor from the Ordinary of the Mass; Meertens, VI, 17, 21].
    • 3. ff. 53r-80r Long Hours of the Cross, intermixed with the Short Hours of the Compassion of the Virgin: Hier beghinnet dat langhe cruis ghetide in duuts. Here ihesu xpristi levende godes soen ic danck ende love di bij wiens gracie ick bin dat selve dat ick bin...
    • Each hour from Lauds on concludes with a prayer rom the Short Hours of the Compassion of the Virgin, that at Lauds commencing (62v): Oracio. O alre heilichste moeder ende maghet maria om dat anxtelike versuchten daer u harte of bevende doe du vernames dat dijn enighe soene ihesus cristus vanden quadien was ghevanghen ende ghebonden ende mit verradenissen ghegeven den swaren tormenten... [Meertens VI, 13, 6] + Collect. [f.80v lines, unwritten].
    • 4. ff. 81r-101v Hours of the Eternal Wisdom: Dat ghetide van der ewiger wijsheit. concludes after seven blank lines on f. 101r with a Suffrage to St. Andrew (f. 101rv): Hier beghinnet een scoen ghebet van dien heiligen apostel sinte andries. Als andries quam tot die steden daer dat heilige cruus bereit was riep hi ende seide O guedecruus lanck heb ick di ghesocht nu bereit mit enen begerended ghermoede come ic totti seker ende blide Op dattu blidelijck mi ontfaeste... + Collect [version of Meertens VI, 21, 19b].
    • 5. ff. 103r-125v Long Hours of the Holy Spirit: Dit is dat heilighe geest ghetide.
    • 6. ff. 126r-148v Hundred Articles of the Passion [Henricus Suso, Centum meditationes dominicae passionis in Middle Dutch]: Hier beghinnen die hondert articulen of gedenckenissens vanden waerden liden ons liefs heren. Ay ewigher wijscheit godes ghenadighe here ihesu cristi Ick mermaen u huden van alle mijnre harten alle des lidens ende des anxtes ende daer wee moedicheidt die ghi ledet om minen wille Doen ghi van deser warelt woudet gaen totten vader naden laetsten avontmaele doen ghi mit uwen iongeren ghinct opten berch van oliveten... [Henricus Suso, Centum meditationes dominicae passionis in Middle Dutch, with prologue; Achten-Knaus, 11, f. 198r, here arranged for recitation on the days of the week].
    • 7. ff. 149r-156v Prayers.
    • (a) ff. 149r-150r For Communion: Hier beghinnet een suverlijck ghebet dat salmen lesen alsmen ten heiligen sacament gaen sal mit devocien. Ay here god van hemelricke Ick bidde dattu onderdanich houdste mijn harte mijn lichaem ende minen gheest Aey here god ic bidde di dattu mi onderdanich houdste mijn harte mijn lichaem ende minen geest Aey here god ick bidde di datte mi geven ghedenckenisse dijnre heilighen passie ende dinen bitteren doot...; (b) f. 150r For Communion: Dit salmen lesen alsmen ten heilighen sacrament gaen sal mit devocien. Here ihesu cristi levende gods soen ic en bin niet waerdich dattu comes in minen sondighen lichame mar spreect een woort ende mijn siel sal worden gesont. [version of Domine no sum dignus... of the Canon of the Mass; Achten-Knaus, p. 356 (index)]; (c) f. 150rv For Communion: Dit saltu ghedencken alstu dat heilighe sacrament indent mont hebste mit groter devocien. Ghebenedijt moet ghi sijn here ihesus xristus levendige gods soen die hier comen biste inden name des here om te wercken mijn salicheit [version of Meertens VI, 14, 16b]; (d) f. 150v For Communion: Dit selstu lesen alstu onse heer ontfangen hebt. Nu verhoge di siele ende lichaem du heveste ontfangen dinen here dinen god ende bidden dy bi dijnre groter ontfarmharticheit ende guedertierenheit wille dat ick nemmermeer vandi ghesceiden en moet wesen noch ghi van mi... [version of Achten-Knaus, 27, f. 146r]; (e) ff. 150v-151r For Communion: Alstu onse here ontfangen hebt. Ay here ader van hemelric ontfarmt mi arme sondeghe mensche die niet en bin dan een aes daer wormen inder werelt die di niet te vollen dancken noch loven en mach van dijnre duerbaerre gaven... [version of Achten-Knaus, 3, f. 179v]; (f) ff. 151r-153r To Christ Hier beghinnen vijf offerhande tot onsen lieven here ihesum cristum. O lieve here hemelsce vader want ic al begheer weder t keeren in uwen dienst al dat ick heb Ende ic niet in mi en vijnde noch oec inder waerheit en hebbe dat wairdich is uwer minnen...; (g) ff. 153r-155r To Christ: Van onsen lieven heer ihesum een suverlijck ghebet. Voer die voeten dijnre hoecheit ghenadighe here legge ic gevallen arme sondighe mensche alle mijn roepen is ghenade en versmade niet dijn arme wesen Aey suete vader bewiset in mi dinen guetliken aert wnat dijn natuer is tontfarmen... [Achten-Kanus, 4, f. 155v]; (h) f. 155rv Suffrage to St. Anne: Hier beghint een schoen ghebet van sint Anna. Ghegruet sijtstu heilighe moeder sinte anna daer waerdet moder de maghet maria der moeder cristi daer die dochter van syoen of comen is dat hemelsche broot daer sueticheit ende daer vrolicheit die sinen dienaren voedet... + Vs, Collect [version of Achten-Knaus, 33, f. 267r?]; (i) ff. 155v-156v Suffrage to St. Gregory: Een guet gebet tot sinte gregorius die heilige leeraer. O heilighe vader sinte gregorius du biste een alre suetste orghane des heiligen geestes ede een claer spieghel alre duechden bidt voer ons hulpe dat wi dat moghen vercrighen... (+ Collect, Vs, and Collect); (j) f. 156v To Mary: Ene minnetlike gruet van onser liever sueter vrouwen. Weest gegruet o alre suverlicste maget in dat suete indrupen dat vander harten daer heiliger drievoudicheit in di gedropen is In alre glorie ende blijscappen daerstu di nu in verblijdste... [abbreviated version of Meertens, VI, 31, 22?].
    • 8. ff. 157r-181v Seven Penitential psalms and Litany, intermixed with Prayers on the Penitential Psalms: Hier beghinnen die seven salmen in duutschen. The first of the prayers on the Penitential Psalms commences on f. 157v: Hier beghint dat ghebet op die eerste psalm domine ne. O du heilighe vader aelmachtich ewich got ontfanck overmits dinen soen onsen heer ihesum cristum Ende overmits den heiligen geest in welken du bistet in drien personen een wairachtich god Dese offerhande deser salmen, ende dese ghebeden die ic hier lese als een onwairt sondich mensche te love ende ter eren dijns heilighen namen... [Meertens, VI, 17bis, 23]. Concludes with two prayers on the Penitential Psalms (ff. 180v-181v): (a) f. 180v Een suverlic ghebet. O aelmachtighe ewighe god die heerscappie hebste over levende ende over doot gewaerdighe di te ontfangen dese helight salmen die ick onwaerdighe sondaer heb ghelesen in die eere dijns heilighen namen Ende dijnre heiliger moeder die maghet marien ende alle dijnre heiligen voer mi dine dienster... [Meertens VI, 17bis, 23b]; (b) f. 181rv Op die penitencie een guet ghebet oracio. O hemelsche vader hoe groot sijn mijn sonden ende hoe cleyn is mijn penitencie Ick bekenne ende belie dat ic teghens u misdaen heb Ende mijn sonden sijn alsoe groot dat icse niet ghebeteren en can aanoch niement voer mi... [Lieftinck, 1948, p. 142, f. 209v]. Cunera, Commer und Suwaer are cited among the Virgins in the Litany.
    • 9. ff. 183r-216v Office of the Dead: Hier beghinnet de vigelie van ix lessen.
    • 10. ff. 217r-224v Prayers.
    • (a) f. 217rv To the Five Wounds: Totten wonden ons liefs heren ihesu criste vijf devote grueten Pater noster. O heilighe vijf wonden ingedruckte zegelen den weerdigen lichaem ons liefs heren ihesu xpristi Ic gruet u mit ynniger ende waerachtiger begeerten mijns herten Ende begeer van die overvloeydicheit der genaden die doer di tot ons gecomen is... (+4 more verses); (b) ff. 217v (rubric only) -221r Seven Greetings to St. Anne: Hier beghinnen seven suverliker grueten tot sint anna onser liever vrouwen moeder. Ic gruet u o heilige vrouwe Sinte anna ende verbliji iu O salige ende weerdighe vrouwe, als van dien dat die ewige vader inder godheit u versien heeft ende u daer toe ghescepen ende gemaect heeft dat ghi die mit Joichem uwen man vermaledijt ende versmaet in israel hiete te wesen...; (c) ff. 221r-222r To Christ: Een scoen lof tot onsen lieven here mit dancbaerheit. O coninc der glorien ende scepper alre creaturen ic onweerdige u dienster wt aenmerckinge uwer menichvoudiger gaven ende weldaden die gi den menscheliken geslecht ye gedaem hebt van aenbeghinne der werlt So werde ic van uwer minnen daer toe gedwongen in mijnre begeerten u daer van te loven ende te dancken...; (d) f. 222rv To Mary: Tot onser liever vrouwen maria. God gruet u gloriose vrouwe coninghinne des hemels ende alle der werlt O weerdighe maecht maria ic onsalige menschae die mit ontelliken sonden beswaert bin Overmits welken ich ontsie die strenicheit des rechtveerdigen rechters So en wete ic niet dan te vlien tot u moeder der barmherticheit...; (e) ff. 222v-224v To Mary, attributed to st. Bernard: Dit gebet spreect sinte bernaert totter suverre herten marien der waerder glorioser maghet mit welken hi veel gracien bi haer vercreghen heeft gebet. Ic spreke tot dijnre herten ende aenbede dat als een heilich tempel gods ende ic aenbedet wt rechter innicheit wt yndersten ynaderen mijnre zielen ende wt den ovesten inwendigen craften mijns herten so gruete ic den onbevlecte herte... [Meertens, VI, 12, 14].
    • 5 full-page miniatures, 7 column miniatures, and an added miniature excised from another manuscript.
    • Fol. 15v Annunciation (Hours of the Virgin).
    • fol. 16r Madonna and Child in half-length (7-line column miniature, Matins of the Virgin).
    • Fol. 52v Crucifixion (Hours of the Cross).
    • fol. 53r Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (6-line column miniature, Matins of the Cross).
    • Fol 80 bisv Gnadenstuhl Trinity adored by the Angels (Hours of the Eternal Wisdeom).
    • Fol. 81r Man of Sorrows in the Tomb with Instruments of the Passion (7-line column miniature, prologue).
    • Fol 102v Pentecost (Hours of the Holy Spirit).
    • Fol. 103r St. Anne teaching the Virgin to read (7-line column miniature, Matins of the Holy Spirit).
    • Fol 126r Christ in bust-length (6-line column miniature, Hundred Articles of the Passion).
    • Fol 157r David in Penitence (7+ line column miniature, First Penitential Psalm).
    • Fol 182v Burial Servicein a Churchyard (Office of the Dead).
    • Fol. 183r Raising of Lazarus (6-line column miniature, Vespers of the Dead).
    • Added Miniature Fol. 1r A Prophet (?) in Prayer (10 line column miniature excised from a latin Breviary and pasted in the lower margin).
    • PROVENANCE Made for a woman (feminine forms in the prayers on ff. 156r ("mij arme sondaerster"), 180v ("voer mi dine dienster") and 221r ("u dienster").
    • BIBLIOGRAPHY. Unpublished.
    • A cut-down miniature of the Gnadenstuhl Trinity, formerly inserted before leaf 81, now inserted loose among the flyleaves.
    • COMMENTARY: This unpublished and previously unrecorded Book of Hours is a major addition to our knowledge of fifteenth-century manuscript illumination from the Low Countries. Combining decorative and painting styles from the Northern and Southern Netherlands, it testifies to a hitherto unknown pattern of collaboration between craftsmen from the two regions, and in examples which are among the most accomplished in their styles. Dated and textually complete, the manuscript is in its original binding and still possesses its original wide margins. It is notably large for a Dutch Book of Hours, to our knowledge being exceeded in size only by the Hours of Sophia van Byland, which was made in Arnhem in 1475 and illustrated by the Master of St. Bartholomew. (Les Enluminures cat. 9/4 lists the largest recorded book of hours from the netherlands, 23 x 16.9 cm., use of the Windesheim Congregation and miniature and initials byt he Master of Beatrijs van Assendelft's Vita Christi, Delft,ca 1480- 1490.).
    • The book was written and decorated in the Northern Netherlands in 1484. The date is given in an inscription written in alternating passages of red and blue Gothic letters and prominently placed on a scroll coiled around the foliage in the margin of fol. 119v: "Int. iaer. ons. heren dusent .C.C.C.C. vier. ende lxxx wort ghemaect did boeck." The localization to the Northern Netherlands follows from the choice of saints cited in the Calendar and Litany, which are characteristic of the diocese of Utrecht, the selection of texts and elements of their dialect, and the style of decoration found in the core of the book.
    • The pen-flourish decoration of the text pages is that of the so-called "aubergine group," which is named after the bulbous, eggplant-like forms which emerge from the foliage on leaves with relatively elaborate pen-flourishes. the painted decoration of leaves commencing all hours except Matins and Lauds is that of the so-called "Monkey Master," who is named for his preference for depictions of anecdotal scenes of monkeys in the margins of his manuscripts. His work was heretofore known in a series of six other Dutch 'Horae', all datable from ca 1480-90.
    • *Berlin, Staatliche Museen preussischer Kulturbesitz, Kupferstichkabinett, Ms. 78 B 3.
    • The Hague Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Ms. 74 G 30.
    • The Hague Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Ms. 133 H 16.
    • The Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Ms. 133 M 82.
    • The Hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Ms 133 k 40.
    • Weert, Bibliotheek van de Minderbroeders, Ms. 17.
    • Of the stylistically related works, the most important for comparison with the present book is the codex in the hague, Koninklijke Bibliotheek, Ms. 133 M 82. This manuscript, which is likewise dated 1484 (in computistical circles in the Calendar), has pen-flourish decoration virtually identical to that in the present manuscript (Ills. 1-2), and thus attributable to the same hand, as well as an original binding stamped with identical tools, including a coat of arms bearing the charge of two bars counter-embattled. The painted marginal decoration of the manuscript in The Hague is also comparable, although that on most of the important text pages is executed on the blank vellum, rather than on panel borders (Ill. 3). Panel borders surround the four inserted full-page miniatures in this manuscript and one of the text pages (f. 105r), however, and these include examples which echo some of the forms found in the present Book of Hours (Ill. 3). Withal, the present Book of Hours is larger, more richly and elaborately decorated, and more refined than any of the other works known by the Monkey Master.
    • The full-page miniatures and the historiated initials on facaing text pages of the present manuscript are by the Master of Edward IV, and illuminator thought to have been active primarily, if not exclusively, in Bruges from ca. 1470-1490. Thus far miniatures in his style havae been noted in only one other Book of Hours made in and for use in Holland, and in this case they consist only of full-page miniatures inserted into a book written and decorated in the north. The present manuscript presents a somewhat more complex case, for while all the full-page miniatures are on the versos of inserted single leaves, the column miniatures on text pages commencing major new texts are also byt he Master of Edward IV. Many of these text pages are also singletons, but that is not true of the first, fol. 16, and the script, initials and pen-flourish decoration on all these text leaves agrees with that in the remainder of the manuscript. Accordingly, either the manuscript (or some of its text leaves) was sent to the Southern Netherlands to receive the mainiatures painted by the Master of Edward IV, or one would have to hypothesize that this painter travelled to the locale where the book was written, decorated, and bound. Although the former hypothesis seems to us the more likely, the latter cannot be excluded.
    • The inclusion of miniatures by a southern illuminator in the present manuscript constitutes another of its links with the closely related Horae, also dated 1484 in The Hague (Ms 133 M 82). the inserted full-page miniatures in the latter manuscript can also be attributed to a southern Netherlandish illuminator, albeit not the Masterof Edward IV. They are stylistically related to works by the so-called Master of the Wodhull-Harberton Hours, who contributed miniatures to at least two Books of Hours made probably in Delft as well as to a larger group made in the Southern Netherlands, including at least one work where he collaborated with the Master of Edward Iv. It is apparent from this nexus of relationships that a number of books written and decorated in the Northern Netherlands in the period ca. 1475-1490 were illustrated with miniatures by painters active primarily in the Southern Netherlands. The present manuscript is one of the finest of this group, including miniatures which are among the most refined ones made by the Master of Edward IV to illustrate Books of Hours. Their inclusion in a book dated 1484 will help to plot the chronology of his oeuvre.
    • Of related works by the Master of Edward IV, we can call attention especially to a miniature of the Gnadenstuhl Trinity in the "Hours of Claude de Toulongeon" (Ill. 4). The miniature is a partial reversal of the depiction of the same subject which formerly faced fol. 81r, but is now cut down and loose in the manuscript. For the rest, one finds figural, compositional cand coloristic features similar to those in other manuscripts by the Master of Edward IV, presented here in his mature style of the 1480s.
    • A final note should be offered about the small miniature of a kneeling figure (a prophet?) in prayer which is pasted onto the lower margin of fol. 1r. The illustration, which is of compelling delicacy, is also by a painter trained in the Southern Netherlands and likewise active in the third to fourth quarters of the fifteenth century. The miniature was excised from a Latin manuscript written in bastarda, and to judge from its size and the remnants of the text which adhered to fol. 2r (which apparently had a similar added miniature that was subsequently removed leaving offsets of its text in reverse), it came from a Latin Breviary. The scale and style of the miniature relate it to a small Breviary dated 1477 now in Brussels (Ill. 5). while there is no evidence to suggest that the excised miniature came from the manuscript in Brussels, it also has an initial at its upper right corne and, like it, it is also related styistically to works by the Master of Mary of Burgundy and the Master of the Older Prayerbook of Maximilian I.
    • This newly discovered Book of Hours is one of the largest ever made in the Northern Netherlands, the finest and most elaborately decorated work known in the style of the Monkey Master, and a splendid example of "aubergine" penwork in its most refined style. The trompe l'oeil painted border decoration is the manuscaript is among the boldest known in Dutch illumination, and stands comparison with that in many Southern Netherlandish works of the so-called "Ghent-Bruges school." The manuscript is furnished with full-page and column miniatures by the Master of Edward IV of Bruges and a small miniature excised from a manuscript illustrated in the style of the Master of Mary of Burgundy. It contributes to greater knowledge of both Dutch and Flemish illumination in one of their last, greatest phases, as well as raising new questions about the interrelationships between the artistic traditions of these two regions. (Printed text with citations on file).
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