Completed ca. 1440-50 and illuminated in the style of the Masters of the Gold Scrolls, this Book of Hours preserves much information about its provenance. The first owner was possibly Barbe de Feuru, whose signature is found on the front pastedown. The book contains the ex libris of Jean of Ricaumez and his wife, Catherine of Barbenchon; their French inscription on the back pastedown promises good wine to the finder of the book if lost. The book was inherited by their son, Christophe of Ricaumez, who likely added several texts illustrated by an Rouennais artist, ca. 1500. Record of the ownership is not evinced in the book again until 1669 when the ex libris of the Count of Hallennes (Allennes family of Tournai?) was added. Alexandre-Constantin-Joseph of Nassau’s (1738-1814) armorial shield appears twice, engraved (front pastedown) and painted (front flyleaf i, v).
To explore fully digitized manuscripts with a virtual page-turning application, please visit Walters Ex Libris.
Posted by Walters Art Museum Illuminated Manuscripts on 2016-02-05 17:15:43
Tagged: , Book of Hours , Christian , Flemish , Book , Codex , Grotesques , Heraldry , Historiated initial , Illumination , Manuscript , Miniature , Walters Art Museum , Flanders , 15th century , Devotion
