BOOK OF HOURS FOR USE IN PARIS - Lot 31

BOOK OF HOURS FOR USE IN PARIS Book of Hours for Use in Paris—“Hore Beate Marie Virginis secundum usum Parisiensii (…). Paris, Germain Hardouyn, n.d. [circa 1525]. In-8 [170 x 105 mm], black calfskin decorated with a scattering of gold lilies, medallions at the center of the covers depicting the Crucifixion (front) and the Annunciation (back), foliage with cherubs in the spandrels; bears the owner’s name? “Louis” on the upper cover; ribbed spine decorated with golden lilies; back cover and endpapers in green moiré (rebound in the late 16th century). 228 pp. on vellum [A1-P8; no letter I], Gothic type [24 lines per page], in Latin and French, printer’s mark on the first page and colophon, parchment endpapers. The full-page illuminations are framed by classical architectural motifs. All pages feature a gilded border; initials on a blue or red background. Illustrations p. 1 (A1), two angels supporting Hardouyn’s printer’s mark p. 4 (A2v), a skeleton surrounded by four vignettes p. 24 (B3v), Saint John writing p. 26 (B4v), Saint Luke (small round vignette) p.28 (B5v), Saint Matthew (small round vignette) p.29 (B6), Saint Mark (small round vignette) p.31 (B7), the Arrest of Christ p. 44 (C5v), Adam and Eve and the Fall p. 45 (C6), the Annunciation p. 73 (E5), the Nativity p. 85 (F7), the Flight into Egypt p. 95 (G4), The Crucifixion [water stain on the facing page] p. 102 (G7v), Pentecost p.107 (H2), Full-length Immaculate Virgin and the Infant Christ p.114 (H5v), Bathsheba Bathing p.171 (M3), The Trinity p.174 (M4v), Virgin and Child p. 179 (M7), Saint George Slaying the Dragon p. 180 (M7v), Saint John the Baptist p. 181 (M8), Saints Peter and Paul p. 183 (N1), Saint Lawrence p.184 (N1v), Saint Christopher Carrying the Infant Jesus p.185 (N2), Saint Sebastian p.187 (N3), Saint Nicholas, Saint Claude p.189 (N4), Saint Anthony, Saint Roch p.191 (N5), The Education of the Virgin, Saint Mary Magdalene p.192 (N5v), Saint Catherine p.193 (N6), Saint Margaret, Saint Barbara p.195 (N7), Saint Genevieve REBONDED BINDING, likely bearing the name of its owner, “Louis,” and the insignia of the Royal Congregation of Penitents of the Association of Our Lady, a religious brotherhood founded by Henry III. PROVENANCE - An 18th-century owner (1758), the grocer “Party,” inscribed on the back endpaper: “This book belongs to its master, whose name shall remain unspoken; he is a fool, but neither a Capuchin nor a priest, nor does he have any desire for learning; in case of loss, Party—that is his name—grocer (…).” - From the library of Sieur de Faucher, a family originally from the Comtat Venaissin, with his armorial bookplate. - From the library of the Swiss painter Charles Humbert (1891–1958), with his bookplate. 17th-century headbands on the third folio featuring a phrase from the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola: “Do what you will ” Binding rubbed, leather-covered joints, gilding faded. 113 ff. out of 120 [missing e1, e8, f2, g1, g2, i8