Sales catalogue 512: Maggs Bros

Date:
1928
Reference:
WA/HMM/CM/Sal/13/69
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sales catalogue 512: Maggs Bros. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    346/358 page 298
    local veneration contained in the calendar is St. Siffrein, bishop of Carpentras (feast day, 27 November), to whom was dedicated the cathedral of Carpentras, rebuilt 1405. The minatures are refreshingly strange to the eye familiar with French Horae. They do not seem pure French, and suggest that the artist had acquaint- ance with Italian and Spanish paintings. The style of the miniatures is archaic: the small figures, delicately and precisely delineated and stiffly placed, give the appearance of early XIVth century work. The costumes are the modes of the period—the Virgin Mary is very much a French lady of the XIVth century. The backgrounds to the miniatures are very unusual; once or twice the gold and diapered backgrounds make their appearance, but for the most part the backgrounds are out of the ordinary, the most striking being the one of blue sky with formal white clouds. Another surprising feature of these miniatures is the pointed beard which the artist has given to God, Jesus, and other male figures. The colouring of the miniatures is unconventional, the use of yellow paint where usually gold is found is quickly remarked and especially pleasing. The subjects of the twelve miniatures are :— 1. The Annunciation. 2. The Nativity in the stable at Bethlehem. 3. The Angel appearing to the Shepherds. 4, The Presentation in the Temple. 5. The Adoration of the Kings. 6. The Coronation of the Virgin. v7. The Crucifixion, the Blessed Virgin and St. John standing beside the Cross. 8. The Almighty holding up Christ on the Cross, the Holy Ghost at Christ’s Head. 9, CHOIR CHANTING OVER A CATAFALQUE COVERED WITH A BLUE PALL SPANGLED WITH FLEURS-DE-LYS. 10. King David praying, his harp behind him, before him is the Host in a golden chalice. 11. The Virgin and Child in a golden chair, the Child has his left arm round the Virgin’s neck and holds the orb in his right hand. 12. The Virgin with the Child feeding at her breast. [This miniature is followed by a long prayer to the Virgin in French verge, written in another hand to the rest of the MS.]. The Adoration of the Kings is a little damaged, and one or two other minia- tures are slightly rubbed. The borders are extremely wide and in consequence most of them are cut into a little at the top.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3