Book of Hours (Use of Paris), "The Hours of St. Alexis"
Office of the Dead; Matins, First Nocturne
F-2xjx
General Information
Original Condition
Current Condition
Book Decoration and Musical Notation
Full borders of acanthus and rinceaux in gold and colors with
birds, plants, trees, and hybrids. One- to -three-line initials
throughout, many historiated with portraits. Roundel miniature
in the outer central margin of each recto and verso illustrating
several different narratives: Calendar: Labors of the Month (r)
and Zodiac (v); Gospel Readings: Evangelist portraits and
Biblical scenes; Marian prayers: Scenes from the Life of the
Virgin and other Biblical scenes; Hours of the Virgin: Scenes
from the Life of St. Katherine of Alexandria; Penitential
Psalms and Office of the Dead: Scenes from the Life of St.
Alexis. Attributed to the Coëtivy Master.
History
Written in Northern France in the third quarter of the fifteenth
century, Use of Paris indicated by the Calendar and the
responsories of the Office of the Dead. The presence of
extensive illustrative cycles for the Lives of St. Alexis and of
St. Catherine of Alexandria suggest that the manuscript may
have been made for a married couple named Alexis and
Catherine.
When complete, said to have been owned by Erza Clark
Stillman (1907-95), New York, NY. Likely broken by Bruce
Ferrini in the 1980s.