BEAUTIFUL MINIATURE FROM A FRENCH BOOK OF HOURS, CIRCA 1475, DEPICTING SAINT LUKE IN HIS STUDY

(BOOK OF HOURS). Illuminated leaf from a Book of Hours. Likely Besancon, circa 1475. One vellum leaf, measuring 6-1/2 by 9-1/2 inches; handsomely window matted and framed, entire piece measures 11 by 14-1/2 inches. $14,000.

Beautiful illuminated leaf from a Book of Hours, likely from Besançon, France, depicting Saint Luke in his study, set within a beautiful elaborate floral and ivy border.

This splendid miniature from an unusually large Book of Hours features Saint Luke in his study, accompanied by his traditional symbol, a winged ox. With a pleasing palette, many fine details, and handsome border decorations, this leaf contains text from the opening of the second Gospel Lessons, a key component of Books of Hours that provided medieval people with one of the few opportunities to read at least parts of the New Testament themselves. The artist of the present miniature has enriched the scene with details emphasizing Luke's role as a scribe and author: not one, but two writing surfaces are represented here (a long scroll spilling over the slanted writing desk and an open codex on display behind the ox). Luke, intently focused on his work, holds a quill (to write) and knife (to sharpen the quill and scrape away mistakes). A long, slanted writing desk with an attractive wood grain lays prominently across a throne-like chair, and two weighted straps (used to hold the leaf in place as the scribe wrote) can be seen dangling over the edge. The interior includes a dramatic gilt brocade cloth across the back of the chair, a wooden ceiling with beams, and a set of pale green columns supporting the archway that frames the entire scene. The beautiful border features acanthus leaves, flowers, berries, ivy leaves and sprays of gold bezants on hairline sprays.

Stylistically, this leaf can be localized to the Franche-Comté region in eastern France, and is closely related (if not directly attributable to) an atelier specializing in Books of Hours made for the Use of Besançon and mostly likely situated in that city. The similarities are especially apparent in the figures' faces, which are slightly puffy in appearance and have distinct, slit-like eyes. As noted by Avril and Reynaud, the unnamed master of this atelier was deeply indebted to the Master of Morgan 293, a Burgundian illustrator active in the second quarter of the 15th century, named after a particularly lovely Book of Hours made for the Use of Besançon. In fact, the face of Luke in the present miniature greatly resembles that of Luke in the Morgan manuscript, and many of the details—the chair with its luxurious cloth back, the wood-grained desk, the weighted straps, the beamed ceiling, the tassels hanging from Luke's robes and the architectural framing—accord with the Matthew miniature in that same manuscript.

Slight wrinkling to leaf, along with slightest rubbing to colors, most apparent in Luke's blue robes. A beautiful and unusually large leaf, very handsomely framed.