24th ILAB International Antiquarian Book Fair - Vereinigung der ...

Charles V King of France, a member of the House
of Valois who died in 1380. Some scholars have
put forwards the idea that one of the Magi in the
miniature could be one of the two sons of Charles
V. One of them became the King under the name of
Charles VI and the other was Louis of Valois, killed
in 1407. – David in prayer and The Coronation
of the Virgin: David’s scene features characteristic
elements, such as God stretching out his arm, the
windmill in the background, rough and angular
rocks and the drawing of the water and the clouds.
These elements are similar to Book of Hours we talked
about (Katalog Tenschert 42).The Coronation
of the Virgin is probably the miniature that shows
more affinities. The only little differences are the
faces and a detail of the canopy. With regards to the
scene of David in prayers and the Adoration of the
Magi, it is possible to find strong affinities in other
Books of Hours dating the first half of the fifteenth
century, too. The Hours of Charlotte of Savoy
(Pierpont Morgan Library, New York,MS M.100)
is an example of these affinities. It was illuminated
by Bedford Master together with two other artists
one of whom was a follower of Boucicaut M., In
Paris in 1420–25. Another examples are: the book
exposed at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles (MS.
22) that was ascribed to the Boucicaut Master’s
workshop, and the book illuminated by Mazarine
Master 469. Mazarine was one of the right-hand
men of Boucicaut and he was often mistaken for
him. – Provenance: This book belonged to Thomas
Le Conte: «Se presen livre apartient a Thomas Le
Conte» (f. 131v). Afterwards, it belonged to Pierre
Le Comte and in the flyleaf it was written by hand:
«Ce livre appartient a Pierre Le Conte, fait par luy
en l’année Mil sept cent cinquante six». Finally, in
1777 the book was sold: «J’ai achepté ce livre au
l’encan de la veuve Pierre Le Comte le dimanche 4
mai 1777 pour la somme de six solz payé comptant,
et ce par curiosité. Il a été écrit en 1444 à Pâques».
The letter dated 1779 is significant. Here, Mr. Ferrè,
or Serrè, described the book to the anonymous new
owner. The book had the same conditions as today.
There is another letter dated 1844, in which the
previous owner’s grandson described the manuscript.
He explained that his father had removed
the four miniatures from the book, but then they
were inserted again.
Giuseppe Solmi Studio Bibliografico 123