August 2021 Catalogue

Large Illuminated Leaf From A 15th-Century Italian Antiphonal Featuring A Beautiful Hand-Colored Image Of King David In Prayer 23. (ILLUMINATED LEAF) Illuminated leaf from an antiphonal. Ferrara, Italy, circa 1455-60. Single vellum leaf (6-1/2 by 6 inches), illuminated in colored inks; matted and framed, entire piece measures 13- 1/2 by 13-1/2 inches. $16,500. Beautiful, oversize illuminated miniature from an Italian Antiphonal, comprising a large, hand-colored image of King David in prayer. The style and color of this leaf place the artist within the Ferrarese tradition of the mid-15th century. There, teams of illuminators worked together to produce some of the most extravagant manuscripts of the period. University of Zurich professor Gaudenz Freuler has identified the artist of this work as the fourth Master of Plutarch’s Vitae (Cesena, Biblioteca Malatestiana, S. XV. 2). This leaf bears notable similarities to the Cesena manuscript, including the foreshortened faces, similarly close eyes, and prominent noses of God and David. Slight rubbing to gilt and unobtrusive creasing. A splendid piece in beautiful condition. With A Lovely Hand-Colored Image Of The Pentecost 24. (ILLUMINATED LEAF) Illuminated leaf from a Book of Hours. France, circa 1490. Single vellum leaf (4 by 5-3/4 inches), illuminated in colored inks; window matted and framed, entire piece measures 11-1/2 by 14 inches. $7800. Beautiful illuminated miniature from a French Book of Hours, a large, hand-colored image depicting the Pentecost in crispdetail, with three lines of Latin text inbatarde script and a three-line initial “D” below the image, bordered with flowers, leaves, and acanthus leaves. This beautiful illuminated domed miniature depicts the Pentecost, with the apostles kneeling in prayer and Mary traditionally dressed in her iconic blue robes. The Holy Spirit is depicted as a dove flying in through a window held open by one of the apostles—possibly Saint John. A bit of rubbing to the apostles’ robes, initial “D”, and a few border elements, still quite vibrant and desirable. Near-fine condition. Featuring A Hand-Colored Image Of The Annunciation 25. (ILLUMINATED LEAF) Illuminated leaf from a Book of Hours. France, circa 1490. Single vellum leaf (4 by 5-3/4 inches), illuminated in colored inks; matted and window framed, measures 10-1/2 by 13 inches. $6500. Wonderful illuminated miniature from a French Book of Hours, a large, hand-colored image depicting the Annunciation, with four lines of Latin text from the Hours of the Virgin in gothic script, one four-line floriated initial, one two-line initial, and a line extender, beautifully bordered on all sides by berries, flowers, acanthus leaves, and a bird-like drollery. In this image, only Gabriel wears a halo whereas Mary, despite her iconic blue robes, maintains a rather unadorned appearance. Light wear to faces, presumably from devotional use, a few slight smudge and rubmarks. A beautiful leaf in extremely good condition. F r a m e d ! 2 0 2 1 B a u m a n R a r e B o o k s 21 20