Master of the Troyes Missal (active in Troyes, Langres and Besançon, second half of the 15th century)
Charming Book of Hours (use of Besançon) with thirteen paintings, c. 1460
Illuminated manuscript on vellum (tempera, ink and gold), Latin and French; 217 ff. (105 x 78 mm). Gothic bastarda, one column, ruled for 14 lines. 13 illuminations (2 full-pages; 11 large miniatures), a few illuminated borders, many ornate initials. 16th century leather binding (measuring 112 x 80 mm).
Copyright La Gabrielle Fine Arts SA
CHF 27'000.-
Further images
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 1
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 2
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 3
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 4
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 5
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 6
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 7
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 8
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 9
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 10
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 11
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 12
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 13
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 14
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 15
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 16
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 17
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 18
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 19
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 20
)
-
(View a larger image of thumbnail 21
)
While the pictorial production of the city of Troyes is completely imbued with Parisian models of the mid-15th century, the Master of the Troyes Missal managed to establish himself on...
While the pictorial production of the city of Troyes is completely imbued with Parisian models of the mid-15th century, the Master of the Troyes Missal managed to establish himself on the local illumination scene. He abruptly broke with the Parisian tradition by establishing his own distinctive style in his hometown, which then defined Troyes illumination until the end of the century. Named the Master of the Troyes Missal after the missal known as Jean Coquet’s missal, a missal written by the scribe Jean Coquet and intended for a private chapel of a church in Troyes (now preserved in Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms. lat. 865A), the illuminator is considered by art historians as "la personnalité la plus marquante de l’enluminure troyenne à partir du milieu du XVe siècle" (i.e., the most prominent figure in Troyes illumination from the mid-15th century), to quote specialist François Avril (F. Avril 1993).
Studied by François Avril and John Plummer (1919-2019), the Master of the Troyes Missal is recognized as an important illuminator who shaped the landscape of the art of illumination in Troyes and, more broadly, in the Champagne region. His activity is dated between 1450 and 1470 and located in Troyes, Langres, and Besançon, where he seems to have retired at the end of his life. His art is characterized by a graphic touch and effective compositions, as well as relatively expressive figures with stout bodies. Several manuscripts, mostly Books of Hours for the use of Troyes, are attributed to him and today preserved in major libraries worldwide. Notable examples include the Hours of Louis XVIII, preserved in Paris (Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms. lat. 10539), the Book of Hours for the use of Langres now at Harvard University in Cambridge (Houghton Library, ms. typ. 21), and the charming Book of Hours for the use of Troyes preserved in Philadelphia (Free Library of Philadelphia, Lewis E 133). The Master of the Troyes Missal had a remarkable influence on his contemporaries active in Franche-Comté, as evidenced by several lower-quality manuscripts that cannot be attributed to the Master but which demonstrate a direct knowledge of his style and formulas.
This charming Book of Hours is a magnificent testament to the art of the Master of the Troyes Missal as well as the beauty, intimacy, and preciousness of Books of Hours. Touching because of its small pocket-book size, and endearing due to the freshness of its thirteen illuminations in remarkable condition, our Book of Hours is an important addition to the corpus of works by the Master of the Troyes Missal, especially as it stands apart from the other Books of Hours produced by the artist, almost all following the use of Troyes. Perhaps our Book of Hours was created for a patron based in or originating from Besançon.
Material description
Book of Hours (use of Besançon); illuminated manuscript on vellum; in Latin and French. Gothic Bastarda, one column, ruled for 14 lines. 217 folios (collation: I2, II-III4, IV2, V5, VI8, VII7, VIII-XIV8, XV7, XVI6, XVII7, XVIII4, XIV5, XV-XVII8, XVIII6, XIX-XXI8, XXII6, XXIII-XXIV7, XXV-XXVI8, XXVII4), preceded and followed by a paper folio, 105 x 78 mm, incomplete. 13 illuminations (2 full-pages and 11 large miniatures); 12 4-lines ornate initials, 10 3-lines ornate initials, more than a hundred 2-lines small decorated initials; 2 leaves with illuminated borders and 11 leaves with floral ornaments on part of one side.
TEXT
ff. 1-12v: calendar
ff. 13-17v: Obsecro te (masculine)
ff. 17v-22: O intemerata (masculine)
ff. 22-25v: Prayer to the Virgin Te matrem Dei laudamus
ff. 26-90: Hours of the Virgin, for the use of Besançon, incomplete (Matines fol. 26; Laudes fol. 38; Prime fol. 52; Tierce fol. 57v; Sexte fol. 62; None fol. 67; Vespres fol. 72; Complies fol. 82v)
ff. 90-102: Hours of the cross and Hours of the holy spirit, incomplete
ff. 102v-106: Prayer to the Virgin Missa de beata Virgine Marie
ff. 106-114v: gospels sequences (Luke fol. 106; John fol. 109v; Mathew fol. 111; Complies fol. 82v);
ff. 115-142; penitential psalms (with litanies ff. 129-134v)
ff. 142v-144: prayer for the dead Avete omnes fideles
ff. 144v-176: seven prayers of St. Gregory
ff. 176v-193v: suffrages
ff. 194-205: prayer to Jesus Christ and oratio Gracia ago tibi
ff. 205v-207v: protest of faith Mon benoit Dieu, je croy de coeur, added, in French
ff. 207v-209v: prayer Anima Christi sanctifica me, added, in Latin
ff. 210-217v: oration Missus est gabriel angelus.
ILLUMINATIONS
fol. 115: King David praying (full-page miniature with illuminated border)
fol. 179: Saint Michael (large miniature)
fol. 180: Saint John the Baptist (large miniature)
fol. 181: Saints Peter and Paul (large miniature)
fol. 182: Saint James (large miniature)
fol. 183: Saint Andrew (large miniature)
fol. 184v: Saint Christopher (large miniature)
fol. 186v: Saint Adrian (large miniature)
fol. 188: Saint Sebastian (large miniature)
fol. 189v: Saint Claudio (large miniature)
fol. 191v: Saint Anatole (large miniature)
fol. 192v: Saint Bernardin of Siena (large miniature)
fol. 200: Last Judgment (full-page miniature with illuminated borders)
Studied by François Avril and John Plummer (1919-2019), the Master of the Troyes Missal is recognized as an important illuminator who shaped the landscape of the art of illumination in Troyes and, more broadly, in the Champagne region. His activity is dated between 1450 and 1470 and located in Troyes, Langres, and Besançon, where he seems to have retired at the end of his life. His art is characterized by a graphic touch and effective compositions, as well as relatively expressive figures with stout bodies. Several manuscripts, mostly Books of Hours for the use of Troyes, are attributed to him and today preserved in major libraries worldwide. Notable examples include the Hours of Louis XVIII, preserved in Paris (Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms. lat. 10539), the Book of Hours for the use of Langres now at Harvard University in Cambridge (Houghton Library, ms. typ. 21), and the charming Book of Hours for the use of Troyes preserved in Philadelphia (Free Library of Philadelphia, Lewis E 133). The Master of the Troyes Missal had a remarkable influence on his contemporaries active in Franche-Comté, as evidenced by several lower-quality manuscripts that cannot be attributed to the Master but which demonstrate a direct knowledge of his style and formulas.
This charming Book of Hours is a magnificent testament to the art of the Master of the Troyes Missal as well as the beauty, intimacy, and preciousness of Books of Hours. Touching because of its small pocket-book size, and endearing due to the freshness of its thirteen illuminations in remarkable condition, our Book of Hours is an important addition to the corpus of works by the Master of the Troyes Missal, especially as it stands apart from the other Books of Hours produced by the artist, almost all following the use of Troyes. Perhaps our Book of Hours was created for a patron based in or originating from Besançon.
Material description
Book of Hours (use of Besançon); illuminated manuscript on vellum; in Latin and French. Gothic Bastarda, one column, ruled for 14 lines. 217 folios (collation: I2, II-III4, IV2, V5, VI8, VII7, VIII-XIV8, XV7, XVI6, XVII7, XVIII4, XIV5, XV-XVII8, XVIII6, XIX-XXI8, XXII6, XXIII-XXIV7, XXV-XXVI8, XXVII4), preceded and followed by a paper folio, 105 x 78 mm, incomplete. 13 illuminations (2 full-pages and 11 large miniatures); 12 4-lines ornate initials, 10 3-lines ornate initials, more than a hundred 2-lines small decorated initials; 2 leaves with illuminated borders and 11 leaves with floral ornaments on part of one side.
TEXT
ff. 1-12v: calendar
ff. 13-17v: Obsecro te (masculine)
ff. 17v-22: O intemerata (masculine)
ff. 22-25v: Prayer to the Virgin Te matrem Dei laudamus
ff. 26-90: Hours of the Virgin, for the use of Besançon, incomplete (Matines fol. 26; Laudes fol. 38; Prime fol. 52; Tierce fol. 57v; Sexte fol. 62; None fol. 67; Vespres fol. 72; Complies fol. 82v)
ff. 90-102: Hours of the cross and Hours of the holy spirit, incomplete
ff. 102v-106: Prayer to the Virgin Missa de beata Virgine Marie
ff. 106-114v: gospels sequences (Luke fol. 106; John fol. 109v; Mathew fol. 111; Complies fol. 82v);
ff. 115-142; penitential psalms (with litanies ff. 129-134v)
ff. 142v-144: prayer for the dead Avete omnes fideles
ff. 144v-176: seven prayers of St. Gregory
ff. 176v-193v: suffrages
ff. 194-205: prayer to Jesus Christ and oratio Gracia ago tibi
ff. 205v-207v: protest of faith Mon benoit Dieu, je croy de coeur, added, in French
ff. 207v-209v: prayer Anima Christi sanctifica me, added, in Latin
ff. 210-217v: oration Missus est gabriel angelus.
ILLUMINATIONS
fol. 115: King David praying (full-page miniature with illuminated border)
fol. 179: Saint Michael (large miniature)
fol. 180: Saint John the Baptist (large miniature)
fol. 181: Saints Peter and Paul (large miniature)
fol. 182: Saint James (large miniature)
fol. 183: Saint Andrew (large miniature)
fol. 184v: Saint Christopher (large miniature)
fol. 186v: Saint Adrian (large miniature)
fol. 188: Saint Sebastian (large miniature)
fol. 189v: Saint Claudio (large miniature)
fol. 191v: Saint Anatole (large miniature)
fol. 192v: Saint Bernardin of Siena (large miniature)
fol. 200: Last Judgment (full-page miniature with illuminated borders)
Provenance
The Book of Hours was written by at least two scribes and illuminated by the Master of the Troyes Missal, either in Troyes or in Besançon, c. 1460 for an unknown patron (male, according to the gender used in the Obsecro Te).On the upper and lower pastedowns, some inscriptions and a label from previous owners can be observed. These marks of ownership can be dated, based on their calligraphy, to the 19th and 20th centuries.
Late 20th century handwritten inscription with the date of "[19]89" and the name of a previous owner (illegible).
Switzerland, private collection.
Switzerland, Zurich, Koller Auktionen AG, September 24, 2016, lot 576 (as "Ostfrankreich [Besançon?], um 1470").
Switzerland, Wabern (Bern), collection of the important collector Dr. Sylvia Legrain (1936-2022).
Switzerland, Zurich, Koller Auktionen AG, September 20, 2023, lot 1929 (as "Ostfrankreich [Besançon?], um 1470").
Literature
Further readingsJ. Plummer, The last flowering. French painting in manuscripts 1420-1530 from American collections, New York & London, 1982.
R. Wieck, Late Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts (1350-1525) in the Houghton Library, Cambridge, 1983.
F. Avril & N. Reynaud, Les manuscrits à peintures en France 1440-1520, Paris, 1993.
J. Lauga & J.-P. Robaut, "Catalogue des manuscrits enluminés", Bibliothèque de la société historique et archéologique de Langres, 326, 1997 (22).
S. N. Fliegel, The Jeanne Miles Blackburn collection of manuscript illumination, Cleveland, 1999.
J. Lauga, "Le chanoine Marcel et la miniature à Langres à la fin du XVe siècle", Société historique et archéologique de Langres, 342, 2001 (23).
Très riches heures de Champagne. L’enluminure en Champagne à la fin du Moyen Âge, exhibition catalogue (Châlons-en-Champagne, Troyes et Reims, bibliothèques municipales, December 8-Mars 8, 2008), ed. F. Avril, H. Hermant and F. Bibolet, Paris and Châlons-en-Champagne, 2007.
Langres à la Renaissance, exhibition catalogue (Langres, musée d’art et d’histoire, May 19-October 7, 2018), dir. P. Caumont, Langres, 2018.
Catalogue raisonné des livres d’heures conservés au Québec, dir. B. Dunn-Lardeau, Quebec, 2018.