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TEXT FROM TERCE.
(Paris: ca. 1500). 165 x 117 mm. (6 1/2 x 4 5/8"). Single column, 18 lines in a gothic book hand.
Rubrics in red, line fillers in blue and pink with gold bezant, five one-line initials in burnished gold on pink and blue ground, one two-line initial in blue on gold ground with a flower in the center, one three-line initial in blue filled with ivy on gold ground, recto with panel border of colorful flowers, vase, and acanthus, verso with A LARGE ARCH-TOPPED MINIATURE OF THE ANNUNCIATION TO THE SHEPHERDS, surrounded by A FULL BORDER of acanthus, flowers, and two birds, all on a painted gold ground. Slight soiling to vellum, but a very well-preserved leaf in fine condition.
From what was surely a costly Book of Hours, this leaf features a charming and skillfully painted miniature of the Annunciation to the Shepherds, attributable to the workshop of Jean Pichore (fl. ca. 1502-20), a major figure among illuminators of the period and one of the most sought-after artists in France at the turn of the 16th century. Depicting the traditional subject associated with the hour of Terce, our miniature portrays, as usual, an angel appearing to shepherds tending their flock, bringing news of the birth of Christ. Although the biblical narrative suggests that the shepherds were startled by the angel's appearance, the three figures in this miniature appear remarkably unmoved--in fact, only one of them seems to take any notice at all. The first shepherd sits on the ground, looking straight ahead; the second holds his hands in prayer but looks little more than, well, prayerful at the angel in the sky; and a third figure maintains a slightly aloof expression, taking no particular interest in the unfolding miraculous event. What may seem to be indifference can be explained easily enough by the artist's successful portrayal of nighttime cold! All three shepherds are thickly dressed, one with his arms pressed tightly against his chest, another with a hood partly covering his face, and the sheep are tightly huddled together into one woolly white cluster. Another manifestation of the artist's success here is seen in the particularly well done molding of the faces, with subtle shading, attractively rendered features, and clear individuation. Moreover, although the shepherds seem essentially unmoved, their garments are dusted with a glistening gold radiance from above, a further subtle touch revealing a high level of achievement on the part of the painter. Finally, the borders are one last source of delight, with a small bird shown in mid-flight, and a second one investigating a single strawberry that seems to have been placed there just for him. All of these indications of sophistication suggest that the original manuscript must have been commissioned by a patron able to pay a premium for the work of a highly skilled atelier. (ST20810P)
Price: $5,500.00