RMGYMss.
PSALTER LEAF Ref 153 recto
The Sotheby’s catalogue description (see provenance, below) states that there was a ferial Psalter from folio 31 to folio 71. That description also includes reference to the bas-de-page on the recto of this leaf and identifies the leaf as folio 33. The six large initials begin the first few words of Psalms 16 to 21. Each of the sections then continues with text that is neither recognisable nor easily translatable. This leaf is from a Psalter and Prayerbook that was produced in Northern Germany (perhaps at Hildesheim) c. 1524.
The size of the leaf is 165m x 135mm (6 1/2ins. x 5 3/5ins.).
PROVENANCE: -
A.
The leaf is from a Psalter and Prayerbook containing 183 leaves that was Lot 100 in Sotheby’s, London, Western Manuscript and Miniatures sale, 23rd. June 1987 and which had the following provenance: -
1. Written and illuminated in Germany. Two of the borders are dated 1524 (ff.61v and 74) and on f.45v an angel holds a shield with the arms of Mansfeld. This family was of great political and military importance in north Germany in the early sixteenth century, and notable members included Albert, Count of Mansfeld (1480-1560), protestant general who raised the siege of Bremen in 1547, and Peter Ernst, Count of Mansfeld (1517-1604), catholic, head of the Belgium branch of the family, courtier of Charles V, soldier, art collector, etc. The only unusual saint singled out with a miniature in the book is St. Godehard (d.1038), bishop of Hildesheim, a notable centre of artist activity about 75 miles north-west of the castle of Mansfeld, in Prussia, between Magdeburg and Mersburg.
2. Taken to France (or Belgium perhaps, if associated with Count Peter Ernst) where all the red rubrics were added in French and French prayers were added at each end. The arms of Adrienne Louvignies have been added in the mid-sixteenth century on f.1, in a lozenge (female form), and, in the same ink, a dragging of a woman kneeling before St. Adrien, her patron saint (f.177); the arms are those of Louvignies, of Artois, and of Maquille, of Ile-de-France (Rietstap, Armorial Général, II, pp.102 and 149).
3. Nineteenth-century signature of Comte d’Aspremont-Lynden
B.
Still complete in autumn 1997 – see “Recent Acquisitions – Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts”, Gűnther, Hamburg and Ferrini, Akron.
OTHER LEAVES: -
Since the autumn of 1997 there have been many single leaves from the book offered for sale. The first probably appeared in the Pirage’s catalogue number 41, (issued in the summer of 1998), item 67, where leaves were priced at $2,400 to $2,700. Leaves have since appeared regularly in Pirage catalogues, in a Maggs European Bulletin, in at least two Sotheby’s auctions, in a Reiss and Sohn auction and probably through other dealers as well. There are three leaves in the Jean Miles Blackburn Collection.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
Whilst typical of the majority of the leaves from this book in that the top border is cut very close and there is minor flaking of paint in the borders, this leaf is a wonderful example of German illumination of the early sixteenth century from what was a very richly decorated manuscript.
PSALTER LEAF Ref 153 recto
The Sotheby’s catalogue description (see provenance, below) states that there was a ferial Psalter from folio 31 to folio 71. That description also includes reference to the bas-de-page on the recto of this leaf and identifies the leaf as folio 33. The six large initials begin the first few words of Psalms 16 to 21. Each of the sections then continues with text that is neither recognisable nor easily translatable. This leaf is from a Psalter and Prayerbook that was produced in Northern Germany (perhaps at Hildesheim) c. 1524.
The size of the leaf is 165m x 135mm (6 1/2ins. x 5 3/5ins.).
PROVENANCE: -
A.
The leaf is from a Psalter and Prayerbook containing 183 leaves that was Lot 100 in Sotheby’s, London, Western Manuscript and Miniatures sale, 23rd. June 1987 and which had the following provenance: -
1. Written and illuminated in Germany. Two of the borders are dated 1524 (ff.61v and 74) and on f.45v an angel holds a shield with the arms of Mansfeld. This family was of great political and military importance in north Germany in the early sixteenth century, and notable members included Albert, Count of Mansfeld (1480-1560), protestant general who raised the siege of Bremen in 1547, and Peter Ernst, Count of Mansfeld (1517-1604), catholic, head of the Belgium branch of the family, courtier of Charles V, soldier, art collector, etc. The only unusual saint singled out with a miniature in the book is St. Godehard (d.1038), bishop of Hildesheim, a notable centre of artist activity about 75 miles north-west of the castle of Mansfeld, in Prussia, between Magdeburg and Mersburg.
2. Taken to France (or Belgium perhaps, if associated with Count Peter Ernst) where all the red rubrics were added in French and French prayers were added at each end. The arms of Adrienne Louvignies have been added in the mid-sixteenth century on f.1, in a lozenge (female form), and, in the same ink, a dragging of a woman kneeling before St. Adrien, her patron saint (f.177); the arms are those of Louvignies, of Artois, and of Maquille, of Ile-de-France (Rietstap, Armorial Général, II, pp.102 and 149).
3. Nineteenth-century signature of Comte d’Aspremont-Lynden
B.
Still complete in autumn 1997 – see “Recent Acquisitions – Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts”, Gűnther, Hamburg and Ferrini, Akron.
OTHER LEAVES: -
Since the autumn of 1997 there have been many single leaves from the book offered for sale. The first probably appeared in the Pirage’s catalogue number 41, (issued in the summer of 1998), item 67, where leaves were priced at $2,400 to $2,700. Leaves have since appeared regularly in Pirage catalogues, in a Maggs European Bulletin, in at least two Sotheby’s auctions, in a Reiss and Sohn auction and probably through other dealers as well. There are three leaves in the Jean Miles Blackburn Collection.
GENERAL COMMENTS: -
Whilst typical of the majority of the leaves from this book in that the top border is cut very close and there is minor flaking of paint in the borders, this leaf is a wonderful example of German illumination of the early sixteenth century from what was a very richly decorated manuscript.