Add MS 39636

PARHAM MS. LIV. MISCELLANEOUS miniatures and initials cut from vellum MSS., chiefly choir-books, viz. :-

1. Large initial D, from a choir-book. The Assumption : the Virgin in a mandorla gives her girdle to St. Thomas. The Apostles in foreground. Italian, late 15th cent. 8 in. x 6 3/8 in. f.1

2. Initial R, from a choir-book. Christ with cross-banner stands on tomb, showing wounds ; a seated man in foreground with sword and halberd. Probably intended for the Resurrection. German, circ. 1500. in rectangular panel 5 7/8 in. x 4 1/4 in. f. 2.

3. Initial C, from a similar MS. An abbot with crozier kneels before the Image of Pity ; over his head a scroll inscribed in gold " Fiat misericordia tua domine super nos. 62." Two shields in foreground:-

(a) Per bend sin. gu. and sa., a bend sin. arg. charged with two lozenges or. betw. 3 roses gu. seeded or;-

(b) Per saltire, unusual form (?) gu. and arg. In rectangular panel 4 3/4 in. X 4 1/4 in. f. 3.

4. Christ and a disciple from a choir-book. Italian (Milanese ?). Late 15th cent. Centre of initial only, 6 1/8 in. x 4 in. f. 4.

5. Initial O ; the. Adoration of the Magi, from a choir-book. Italian, 15th cent. Modern pencil endorsement " from the Cathedral of Como." 4 5/8 in. x 5 3/8 in. f. 5.

6. Initial D; a skull, with crosses, from the same MS., similarly endorsed. 2 5/8 in. x 2 1/8 in. f. 6.

7. Initial D (?) the Nativity, from the same MS., similarly endorsed.

5 1/8 in. x 3 5/8 in. f. 7.

8. A saint with palm-branch, apparently from the same MS., similarly endorsed. 2 5/8 in. x 2 in. f. 8.

9. Initial I, decorative (inverted). Italian (Milanese ?), late 15th cent.

3 in. x 2 7/8 in. f. 9.

10. Monks at a lectern; another takes holy water on entering. Italian, late 15th cent. apparently from same MS. as nos. 13, 28.

6 1/4 in. x 5 5/8 in. f. 10.

11. Initial C ; St. Laurence, from the same MS. as nos. 5-8, without endorsement. 3 1/4 in. x 2 3/8 in. f. 11.

12. Initial T ; exterior of a church, from the same MS. as no. 5, etc.. with endorsement. 3 in. x 2 3/8 in. f. 12.

13. Initial C ; a nimbed abbot [perhaps St. Anthony; cf. pig in initial], seated, with crozier ; apparently from the same MS. as nos. 10, 28. 6 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in. f. 13.

14. Initial M: the Anunciation, apparently from the same MS. as nos. 17, 18, and perhaps Add. MS. 18196, ff. 71-77, 80, 81.

3 3/4 in. x 2 3/4 in. f. 14.

15. Initial C; the Assumption. Italian, late 15th cent. 3 in. x 2 1/8 in. f. 15.

16. Initial N; SS. Peter and Paul. Italian (Milanese ?), late 15th cent.

5 3/4 in. x 3 7/8 in. f. 16.

17. Initial D ; St. Francis, with lily. Apparently from the same MS. as no. 14. etc. 3 in. x 2 3/8 in. f. 17.

18. Initial P ; St. Clare, with monstrance. Inscription on the initial 'V'GIN CLARA GR(ati)A. Apparently from the same MS. as no. 17, etc.

3 1/2 in. x 2 5/8 in. f. 18.

19. Christ with the doctors in the Temple. Italian (Milanese), probably by the artist " B " cf. no. 51. 5 5/8 in. x 4 3/8 in. f. 19.

20-27. Eight decorative initials, probably from the same MS.

3 in. x 3 in., 3 1/2 in. x 3 1/4 in., 3 3/8 in. x 3 1/8 in., 3 1/8 in. x 2 7/8 in., 6 1/4 in. x 6 1/8 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/8 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/8 in., 3 in. x 3 in. ff. 20-27.

28. Initial S ; the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Apparently from the same MS. as nos. 10, 13. 5 5/8 in. x 4 in. f. 28.

29. Initial S ; a group of apostles. Italian, 15th cent. 2 5/8 in. x 2 in. f. 29.

30-32. Three decorative initials from the same MS. as no. 5, etc. Nos. 30 and 31 endorsed in pencil " from the Cathedral of Como." 2 7/8 in. x 2 7/8 in., 3 1/8 in. x 3 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/8 in. ff. 30-32.

33-48. Sixteen decorative initials, nos. 34-48 probably from the same MS. as nos. 20-27. 6 3/8 in. x 6 3/8 in., 3 in. x 3 in., 3 in. x 2 7/8 in.

3 1/8 in. x 3 1/8 in., 3 in. x 2 7/8 in. 6 1/2 in. x 6 1/8 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/4 in., 3 1/8 in. x 3 1/8 in., 3 3/8 in. x 3 1/4 in., 3 1/8 in. X 3 1/8 in., 5 7/8 in. x 5 7/8 in., 3 in. x 2 7/8 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/4 in., 3 1/8 in. x 3 in., 3 1/4 in. x 3 1/4 in., 6 1/2 in. x 5 1/2 in. Nos. 35-37, 39, 41, 42, 43, 47, 48 are inverted. ff. 33-48.

49. Initial B; St.Nicholas,holding three gold balls. Italian (Milanese?), late 15th cent. 3 in. x 2 in. f. 49.

50. Initial C; a bishop saint. From a similar MS. 2 5/8 in. X l 7/8 in. f. 50.

51. Initial C ; the Massacre of the Innocents. Italian (Milanese), late 15th cent. Signed " B " in r. foreground. This signature (as also the signature " B. F.") seems to have been used by at least two distinct artists : compare Add. MSS. 17864 C, 18196, f. 83, Sotheby's sale-cat. 16-17 Nov. 1925, lots 130-132, and several examples in the collection of Sir George Holford, all from the collection of W. Y. Ottley. For similar treatment of clouds in the form of animals compare Sotheby's sale-cat., as above, lots 132, 159. 5 1/2 in. x 4 1/2 in. Probably from the same MS. as no. 19. f. 51.

52. Initial N (?) ; St. John the Baptist; from a similar MS.

6 1/8 in. x 4 1/4 in. f. 52.

53. Initial B ; St. Michael trampling on the devil and weighing souls from a similar MS. 6 in. x 3 3/4 in. f. 53.

54. Initial U ; subject uncertain. A group of seven men in foreground, one seated; a man descending a hill in the distance with a pot and some flat vessel in his hands. The group may be intended for Christ and the disciples, but none are nimbed. Landscape back- ' ground with a lake and city, flocks and cattle. From a similar MS.

6 in. x 3 ¾ in. f. 54.

55-58. Four border panels, probably from the same MS. 8 5/8 in. x 1 7/8 8 3/4 in. x 2 3/4 in., 8 in. x 2 5/8 in., 2 in. x 1 7/8 in. ff. 55-58. The above 58 cuttings are almost certainly from W. Y. Ottley's collection, dispersed in 1838.

59. Three skeletons attack a pope, a king, and a bishop with spears; miniature (3 5/8 in. x 2 1/4 in.) from a Book of Hours of the school of Jean Bourdichon, of Tours, circ. 1500. Part of the text and border mutilated. Endorsed " R. Curzon, Hamilton Palace. From the poor Duke, who died soon after at Paris " [i.e. 11th Duke of Hamilton, d. 8 July 1863]. f. 59.

60. Miniature of the Last Supper, copied from the same subject in Dürer's Great Passion (Bartsch 5). Flemish, late 16th cent.

9 3/8 in. x 7 1/8 in. f. 60.

61. The laying-out of the dead Christ, copied from the same series (Bartsch 12). 9 1/2 in. x 6 7/8 in. f. 61. Vellum fragments ; ff. 61. Folio. xv-xvi centt. Green velvet binding. Curzon Cat., MSS. in Latin, no. 12.

includes:

• ff. 1, 4-58 Art. Illuminations and Drawings ITALIAN: Cuttings from MSS.: 15th cent.
• ff. 2, 3 Art. Illuminations and Drawings GERMAN: Initials from choir-books: circ. 1500.
• f. 51 B; illuminator: Miniature signed by: late 15th cent.
• f. 59 Art. Illuminations and Drawings FRENCH: Miniature from Horae, school of J. Bourdichon: circ. 1500.
• ff. 60, 61 Art. Illuminations and Drawings FLEMISH: Two miniatures copied from Dürer's "Great Passion": late 16th cent.