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Date: 1475~ Contributing Institution: Mount Angel Abbey Library Description: Of the various centers of illumination in northern France during the late fifteenth century, Rouen was undoubtedly the most productive source for lavishly decorated Books of Hours. Large numbers of these manuscripts betray a homogeneous but elegant standard of production less inclined to originality than conspicuous display. The unrestrained use of mat gold paint, the introduction of stock donor portraits, and a rather precious figure style are typical features of the Rouen school. We can infer that division of labor within workshops was especially common by this time as a means of meeting the inflated demand for prayerbooks. Two sets of donor portraits appear in this manuscript, one included in the original stages of production — a young woman in prayer in the Pietà with a knight kneeling in the border (135r). Such figures are of a general, anonymous type and indicate a book offered for sale on the open market. The knight’s armor was modified to bear the insignia of the arms accompanying the second set of donors added shortly after. The second pair is located beneath the Annunciation (13r). Curiously, the Annunciation itself contains two additional figures (one crowned with a coronet) behind the Virgin and Gabriel. The implications of this odd variation in a standard subject are unclear. View Full Item at Mount Angel Abbey Library -
Date: 1475~ Contributing Institution: Mount Angel Abbey Library Description: This exquisite little Book of Hours is a fine example of illumination as practiced at the heart of the Italian Renaissance. The Italian approach to the figure and composition is restrained and elegant, less vigorous and diffuse than Flemish naturalism of the same period. The borders are bold and brilliant in color. The floral decorations, vibrant initials, and delicately attenuated figure style are characteristic of Florentine work during the second half of the 15th century. The miniature style is related but not identical to works by Francesco d’Antonio del Chierico and Attavante, both active during this period. On general stylistic grounds the manuscript should be dated around the 1470s. View Full Item at Mount Angel Abbey Library -
Date: 1475~ Contributing Institution: Mount Angel Abbey Library Description: Documentation of this manuscript book exemplifies the difficulties encountered by a cataloguer in attempting to accurately describe a bound text. The cataloguer’s collation or description of the organization of the text block was: A6, B-D12, E6, F-H12, I-K8, L8(-1). When the book was disbound it was clear that the actual collation was: A8, B6, C-F8, G2, H4, I8, J-K6, L-M8, N8(-1), O6, P6(-1). However, neither collation is an accurate reflection of how the book was originally constructed. When a map was made of the vellum leaves, i.e. hair or grain sides and flesh sides, it became clear that the previous restoration lost the original order. Some of the leaves were probably broken free when the book was taken to the 19th century binder, and he apparently could not read Latin. He guarded pairs of leaves to make folios and commenced to sew the book back together. It was decided to replace the existing vellum guards, most of which had come loose, with goldbeater’s skin, but to leave the order of the leaves as they were. Consequently, the text block is in the order received and the original location of leaves 53, 60, 61, 89, 94, and 95 is unknown. Leaf 101, which is conjugate with leaf 97, is incorrectly numbered and should be leaf 100. View Full Item at Mount Angel Abbey Library