Two illuminated leaves by the Master of Rohan (and workshop) | La Gabrielle Fine Arts
Master of Rohan (and workshop)
The patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child and the Flight into Egypt, c. 1420-1425
Two illuminated leaves from the so-called Thouroude Hours, tempera, ink and gold on vellum, 164 x 123 mm (The patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child), 176 x 123 mm (The Flight Into Egypt) (framed individually, 34.5 x 29 x 3.5 cm each)
Copyright La Gabrielle Fine Arts SA
CHF 17'500.-
Further images
The Master of Rohan (active in Troyes, Paris and Angers, between 1410-1440) stands out as one of the most fascinating illuminators in the history of French illuminated manuscripts from the...
The Master of Rohan (active in Troyes, Paris and Angers, between 1410-1440) stands out as one of the most fascinating illuminators in the history of French illuminated manuscripts from the 15th century. He is conveniently named after his masterpiece, the Grandes Heures de Rohan, a spectacular Book of Hours probably commissioned by Yolande of Anjou around 1430 and now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France in Paris (ms. lat. 9471). Known for his unclassifiable style and his “hors normes” talent, in the words of specialist François Avril (1993), the Master of Rohan has been the subject of much discussion, and studies by experts have helped pinpoint his origin and trace the career of this artist, defined as a “eccentric Frenchman with a personal vision” by expert Sandra Hindman (1988). The Master is active first in Troyes, likely his hometown, at the beginning of the 15th century. He then moved to Paris, where, from around 1415-1420, he collaborated with leading illuminators. By 1425, the Master worked for the House of Anjou, producing Books of Hours for René of Anjou himself.
The two present illuminated leaves originate from a Book of Hours well known to specialists of French illuminated manuscripts, commonly referred to as the ex-Boerner manuscript, named after its sale at the C. G. Boerner auction in Leipzig in 1912 and 1913 (see Provenance), and recently renamed Thouroude (or Thouroulde) Hours by specialist Nathalie Roman (see Published in). This new nickname is in reference to the Thouroude family, originally from Rouen, who owned the Book of Hours as from the 15th or 16th century: the 1912 auction sale catalogue states that the Book of Hours contained handwritten notes, the earliest dating from the 15th century, presenting the names of various members of the Thouroude family, of which the last member died in 1812. It is therefore likely that the Book of Hours was commissioned by the Thouroude family, and more precisely by the woman praying before the Virgin and Child on one of the two present illuminated leaves. It is unknown how the manuscript ended up in the 1912 sale of the dealer C. G. Boerner in Leipzig, but from that date until today, the provenance of the book of hours and its leaves is well documented: the manuscript was dismantled in France between 1925 - the date of its last appearance in its original state - and 1937, when seventeen of the eighteen illuminated leaves that adorned the book were offered on the Parisian auction market (see Provenance). Few illuminated leaves from the Book of Hours are located today, but it is worth mentioning the miniature of the Visitation, which is now in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm (see Sister leaves).
From a stylistic point of view, these two illuminations feature strikingly expressive brushwork and ingenious compositions. The paintings of the Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child and the Flight into Egypt are particularly similar to the illuminations in a Book of Hours produced around the same time, which is currently attributed to the Rohan Master and his workshop (Cambridge, Harvard University, Houghton Library, ms. Richardson 42). Comparisons between these two illuminations and the paintings in that Book of Hours reveals the same expressive, rapid, and almost scratched brushwork, as well as a shared taste for elongated, sometimes disproportionate figures. In the Flight into Egypt, the motif of the angel guiding Saint Joseph and the Virgin is noteworthy, while the other illuminated leaf preserves a precious image - serving as a historical record - of the original patron of the Book of Hours: certainly a woman from the Thouroude family, depicted kneeling in prayer before the Virgin and Child.
We thank Peter Kidd, Christian Etheridge, and Nathalie Roman for their help with provenance research.
Sister leaves
Virgin and Child (ex-fol. 21; current location unknown).
Saint John (ex-fol. 26; current location unknown).
Saint Matthew (ex-fol. 28; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; private collection, 1988).
Saint Luke (ex-fol. 29; current location unknown).
Saint Marc (ex-fol. 31; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Annunciation (ex-fol. 33; current location unknown).
Visitation (ex-fol. 44; Stockholm, National museum, NMB 1906).
Crucifixion (ex-fol. 55; Akron, Bruce Ferrini, in 1988)
Pentecost (ex-fol. 56v; current location unknown).
Nativity (ex-fol. 57v; current location unknown).
Annunciation to the Shepherds (ex-fol. 63v; current location unknown).
Adoration of the Magi (ex-fol. 69v; current location unknown).
Presentation to the Temple (ex-fol. 75; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Coronation of the Virign (ex-fol. 88v; current location unknown).
David (ex-fol. 95; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Death chasing a man (ex-fol. 113; current location unknown).
The two present illuminated leaves originate from a Book of Hours well known to specialists of French illuminated manuscripts, commonly referred to as the ex-Boerner manuscript, named after its sale at the C. G. Boerner auction in Leipzig in 1912 and 1913 (see Provenance), and recently renamed Thouroude (or Thouroulde) Hours by specialist Nathalie Roman (see Published in). This new nickname is in reference to the Thouroude family, originally from Rouen, who owned the Book of Hours as from the 15th or 16th century: the 1912 auction sale catalogue states that the Book of Hours contained handwritten notes, the earliest dating from the 15th century, presenting the names of various members of the Thouroude family, of which the last member died in 1812. It is therefore likely that the Book of Hours was commissioned by the Thouroude family, and more precisely by the woman praying before the Virgin and Child on one of the two present illuminated leaves. It is unknown how the manuscript ended up in the 1912 sale of the dealer C. G. Boerner in Leipzig, but from that date until today, the provenance of the book of hours and its leaves is well documented: the manuscript was dismantled in France between 1925 - the date of its last appearance in its original state - and 1937, when seventeen of the eighteen illuminated leaves that adorned the book were offered on the Parisian auction market (see Provenance). Few illuminated leaves from the Book of Hours are located today, but it is worth mentioning the miniature of the Visitation, which is now in the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm (see Sister leaves).
From a stylistic point of view, these two illuminations feature strikingly expressive brushwork and ingenious compositions. The paintings of the Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child and the Flight into Egypt are particularly similar to the illuminations in a Book of Hours produced around the same time, which is currently attributed to the Rohan Master and his workshop (Cambridge, Harvard University, Houghton Library, ms. Richardson 42). Comparisons between these two illuminations and the paintings in that Book of Hours reveals the same expressive, rapid, and almost scratched brushwork, as well as a shared taste for elongated, sometimes disproportionate figures. In the Flight into Egypt, the motif of the angel guiding Saint Joseph and the Virgin is noteworthy, while the other illuminated leaf preserves a precious image - serving as a historical record - of the original patron of the Book of Hours: certainly a woman from the Thouroude family, depicted kneeling in prayer before the Virgin and Child.
We thank Peter Kidd, Christian Etheridge, and Nathalie Roman for their help with provenance research.
Sister leaves
Virgin and Child (ex-fol. 21; current location unknown).
Saint John (ex-fol. 26; current location unknown).
Saint Matthew (ex-fol. 28; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; private collection, 1988).
Saint Luke (ex-fol. 29; current location unknown).
Saint Marc (ex-fol. 31; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Annunciation (ex-fol. 33; current location unknown).
Visitation (ex-fol. 44; Stockholm, National museum, NMB 1906).
Crucifixion (ex-fol. 55; Akron, Bruce Ferrini, in 1988)
Pentecost (ex-fol. 56v; current location unknown).
Nativity (ex-fol. 57v; current location unknown).
Annunciation to the Shepherds (ex-fol. 63v; current location unknown).
Adoration of the Magi (ex-fol. 69v; current location unknown).
Presentation to the Temple (ex-fol. 75; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Coronation of the Virign (ex-fol. 88v; current location unknown).
David (ex-fol. 95; New York, collection Florence Gould; New York, Sotheby's, April 25, 1985, part of lot 90; New Haven, private collection, in 1988).
Death chasing a man (ex-fol. 113; current location unknown).
Provenance
These two illuminated leaves were part of a Book of Hours illuminated in Paris or Angers by the Master of Rohan (and workshop) c. 1420-1425 for the woman depicted on our leaf of the Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child, certainly a member of the Thouroude (or Thouroulde) family, from Rouen. The leaf with the Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child was fol. 18 while the leaf with the Flight into Egypt was fol. 80v.The complete Book of Hours was the property of the Thouroude family from the 15th or early 16th century until the 18th or early 19th century. According to the 1913 auction catalogue description, members of the Thouroude family inscribed their names on the first and last pages of the Book of Hours.
Leipzig, C. G. Boerner, 28 November 1912, lot 7 (as “French, second half of the 15th century”, probably unsold).
Leipzig, C. G. Boerner, catalogue XXV [1913], lot 9 (as “workshop of the Master of Rohan”, probably sold to the following).
France, private collection, possibly that of the great French manuscripts expert and collector, Paul Durrieu (1855-1925).
Paris, sale of his collection, Hôtel Drouot, Me Henri Baudoin, 30 November 1925, lot 71. Dismembered after this sale and before the following.
Paris, collection of Georges Aubry (1885-1968), painter, collector, and art dealer (17 illuminated leaves).
Paris, sale of his collection (anonymously), Hôtel Drouot, 22 February 1937, lots 36 to 52 (the Flight into Egypt: lot 37; the Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child: lot 52). The provenance of our two leaves can be traced as follows:
The Patroness in prayer before the Virgin and Child:
England, collection of art historians Alfred (1900-1965) and Felicie (1901-1991) Scharf;
London, Christie’s, 12 July 2023, lot 11 (as “workshop of the Rohan Master”);
Switzerland, private collection.
The Flight into Egypt:
France, private collection;
Paris, Oger-Blanchet, 27 October 22, lot 376 (as “Northern France, around 1450?”);
Switzerland, private collection.
Literature
Published in (citing our leaves and/or the Thouroude Hours)C. G. Boerner, Manuscripte une Miniaturen den XII. bis XVI. Jahrhunderts, Handzeichnungen des XV. bis XVII. Jahrhunderts, Leipzig, 1912, n° 7, p. 6-7-.
C. G. Boerner, Gothische Miniaturmalerei, Katalog XXV, Leipzig, [1913], n° 9, p. 15-17, ill. X.
A. Heimann, "Des Meister der 'Grandes Heures de Rohan' und seine Werkstatt", Städel-Jahrbuch, 1932, p. 12, n. 24.
J. Porcher, The Rohan Book of Hours, New York, 1959, p. 32, n. 11.
M. Meiss, French painting in the time of Jean de Berry. The Limbourgs and their contemporaries, New York, 1974, vol. I, p. 404.
C. Nordenfalk, Bokmålningar från medeltid och renässans i Nationalmusei samlingar: en konstbok från Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, 1979, p. 102.
S. Hindman, Cloister, city and court miniature painting in the later Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Tokyo, Maruzen Co. Ltd., 1988, n° 25.
S. Hindman, Medieval and Renaissance miniature paintings, Akron, Bruce Ferrini Rare Books & London, Sam Fogg Rare Books & Manuscripts, 1988, p. 49, 122.
R. C. Simons, "Rohan workshop Book of Hours: reassessing the models", Gazette des Beaux-Arts, 140, 2002, p. 69-72.
N. Roman, "Paul Durrieu (1855-1925): art collecting and scholarly expertise", in The Pre-Modern Manuscript Trade and its Consequences, ca. 1890-1945, ed. L. Cleaver, D., Magnusson, h. Morcos & A. Rais, Arc Humanities Press, 2024, p. 318-319.