Add MS 52539

LEAVES FROM A BOOK OF HOURS. In Latin, written and illuminated in Italy at Bologna in the school of Niccolo da Bologna (b. circa 1330, d. circa 1403); circa 1400. The use generally corresponds to that of Add. MS. 34247, another Hours written and illuminated in Bologna, but with some variation, especially in the Office of the Dead. A further fragment of twenty-five leaves, also probably originally part of the same manuscript as 52539, now forms Add. MS. 69865, having been purchased at Sotheby's (5 Dec. 1989, lot 44). See D. H. Turner, 'Illuminations from the school of Niccolo da Bologna', B.M.Q., xxix, 1964-5, pp. 84-9, pl. 21. Exhibited in 'Treasures for the Nation', Friends of the National Libraries Jubilee Exhibition, 1981, no. 35. The two conjoint bifolia, ff. 3-6, formerly Add. MS. 45890, were presented to the British Museum by Prof. Francis Wormald in 1943. Ff. 1, 2, and 7-12 were purchased with the aid of the Friends of the National Libraries from Sotheby's, 7 Dec. 1964, lots 132-9. The leaves formerly belonged to Arthur William Botham (d. 1963), of the Indian Civil Service, and were sent to the sale-room by his niece, Mrs E. Botham.

Vellum; ff. 12. 236 x 170mm. Circa 1400. The leaves have been cut and mounted on guards, except for two conjoint bifolia, ff. 3-6 and 4-5 (acquired independently of the other leaves). Gatherings were presumably of 8 leaves and catchwords appear on f. 2b and f. 6b. That on the latter is incorporated, on a scroll, into the border decoration. Ruled (hard-point) for 21-22 long-lines within single bounding lines. Sec. fol. '. . . nia secula seculorum'.

Contents:

1. ff. 1-7. Hours of the Virgin. Fragment, comprising extracts from:- Prime.

f. 1; Terce. ff. 1-2; Sext. ff. 3-3b; None. ff. 4-4b; Vespers. ff. 4b-6b; Compline. ff. 6b-7.

2. ff. 7-10. Office of the Dead. Fragment, comprising extracts from:- Matins. ff. 7-8b; Lauds. f. 8b; None. f. 9; Vespers. ff. 9-9b; Compline. f. 10.

3. ff. 10-12b. Hours of the Cross. Fragment. The text has been erased by scraping, except for the 'Oratio de sacrificio corporis . . .' (in red).

The decoration consists of major historiated initials with partial inhabited borders to introduce individual hours, and smaller historiated initials to some of the Psalms. These are executed in gold and colours. Minor initials are finely pen-flourished in gold and blue. Litterae notabiliores are in red and blue.

Subjects are as follows:

1. f. 1. Terce. D: the Nativity and the Annunciation to the Shepherds.

2. f. 2. Sext. D: the Adoration of the Magi.

3. f. 4b. Vespers. D: the Presentation in the Temple.

4. f. 4b. Psalm: Dixit Dominus. D: minor initial, with foliate infill.

5. f. 6b. Compline. C: the Christ-child disputing in the Temple.

6. f. 7. Office of the Dead. Matins. V: scene from the funeral rites.

7. f. 8b. Lauds. Psalm: Miserere mei. M: minor initial, inhabited by a half-length figure of Christ, holding a book and in the act of benediction.

8. f. 9. Vespers. Psalm: Dilexi quoniam. D: minor initial, inhabited by a bust of Christ.

9. f. 10. Office of the Cross. Matins. D: the Betrayal and Arrest.

10. f. 11b. Prayer. C: male (donor?) figure, kneeling to receive the blessing of the enthroned Christ.

11. f. 12. Prayer. Q: the celebration of the Mass.

The figure style is very heavy, with frequently exaggerated faces, dark flesh tones and highlighting. Foreshortening often occurs. The border decoration consists of heavy acanthus ornament and gold discs with single hair-line embellishment. The acanthus stems occasionally assume fretwork forms and sprout zoomorphic terminals, including a long-billed bird, or allegorical human heads. Human figures also inhabit the border, including archers, musicians and an atlas-like figure supporting a vase. These distinctive features are all representative of the school of Niccolo da Bologna. Add. MS. 34247 is a similar product of the same workshop. The script is littera gothica textualis rotunda italiana (in black and red).