Follower of Willem Vrelant

Follower of Willem Vrelant
Book of Hours, use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [Bruges c.1475 and c.1490s; 19th century]
A Book of Hours with an intriguing history, a representative of two aspects of Bruges illumination at the height of its popularity and of the 19th-century ‘missal painting’ revival.

161 x 110mm. ii paper + 224 + ii paper (unfoliated): 112, 210(of 8 + i and ix), 34, 49(of 8 + ii), 58, 64, 77(of 6 +i), 88, 99, (of 8 + vii), 108, 1110(of 8 + iii and viii), 129(of 8 + v), 1310(of 8 + i and vii, 14), 149(of 8 +vi), 159(of 8 + iv), 168, 179(of 8 + i), 18-198, 208(of 8 + i, lacking vii, no loss of text), 21-248, 257(of 8 lacking viii), 262(?of 8 lacking i-vi?), 27-288, 15 lines, ruled space 82 x 61mm, illuminated one-and two line initials and line endings throughout, one historiated initial, 23 small miniatures with three-quarter borders, 14 full-page miniatures on inserted leaves with full borders facing large initials and matching borders, the miniatures of c.1475, many with 19th-century repainting, two miniature openings with borders of hairline tendrils, botanical motifs, figures and birds of c.1475, the remaining borders are either fictive textiles or scatter borders of flowers, acanthus, insects, birds, figures and grotesques, of c.1490s (lacking one leaf, and possibly more, after f.206; offsetting and bleeding through of some borders (presumably from dampening for pressing); some wear to borders and miniatures). 19th-century black morocco gilt by H. Rodwell, metal corner pieces and clasp (spine rubbed).

Provenance: (1) The saints in calendar and litany and the style of the miniatures indicate an origin in Bruges; prayers are in the masculine. (2) Brother Albertus ?Bauwbens of the Bruges Franciscans: in a 16th-century hand are partially erased signatures, ff.1 and 209v, and and an ex libris, f.144. (3) Small collector’s stamp of two crowned shields, f.224v. (4) Sotheby’s, 18 April 1904, lot 268: cutting loose in volume with ‘Bought Apl 1904’ on back. (5) Lukas Frederik Boekenoogen (1871-1939), Amsterdam: no 7 in his collection; his sale, Amsterdam, Mensing et fils, 9 April 1940, lot 931, with plate. (6) Wolbertus Johannes Vroom (1898-1973), Amsterdam: typewritten card loose in volume.

Content: Calendar for Bruges with Donatian (14 Oct) and Nichaise (14 Dec) in red, ff.1-12; Hours of the Cross, ff.14-20v; Hours of the Holy Ghost, ff.22-27; Mass of the Virgin, ff.29-33v; Gospel extracts, ff.34-40; Obsecro te, ff.40-44v; O intemerata, ff.44v-47v; Office of the Virgin, use of Rome, ff.49-120v; seasonal variations, ff.122- 134; Penitential Psalms and Litany, invoking Donatian and Bernadino, canonised in 1450, ff.136-158; ruled blanks, ff.158v-159v; Office of the Dead, use of Rome, lacking end, ff.161-206v; memorials, possibly lacking at beginning, ff.207-224v

Illumination: The book was originally illuminated in Bruges c.1475 by a follower of Willem Vrelant, a leading illuminator there from 1454 until his death in 1481. His compositions are still evident; his clear effective style, in a simplified more linear version, is best seen in Pentecost, f.21v, and the Nativity, f.82v. Only two of the miniatures, with their facing rectos, have borders typical of Vrelant, ff.135v and 160v; the others are later, the beguiling scatter borders that were a hallmark of Flemish illumination from c.1480. Either any earlier borders were thoroughly erased or the manuscript was left unfinished, as was the magnificent Breviary presented to Queen Isabella of Castile in the 1490s, which received its final miniatures in the 19th century (BL Add. ms 18851). They are in a similar style to the repaintings here, which soften outlines and modelling and romanticise landscapes, whether to repair or improve. The result is a fascinating insight into 19th-century taste, while the manuscript as a whole evidences the active engagement of its owners from the 15th century onwards.

The subjects of the full-page miniatures, with c.1490s borders except for ff.135v,160v, most with 19th-century repainting are: Crucifixion f.13v, Pentecost f.21v, Virgin and Child f.28v, Annunciation f.48v, Visitation f.69v, Nativity f.82v, Annunciation to the Shepherds f.88v, Adoration of the Magi f.94v, Presentation in the Temple f.99v, Massacre of the Innocents f.105v, Flight into Egypt f.114v, Coronation of the Virgin f.121v, David f.135v, Office of the Dead f.160v.

The small miniatures, at least seven with obvious 19th-century repainting, all with c.1490s borders are on ff. 34, 35v, 37, 39, 40, 207, 209, 209v, 210, 211, 212v, 213v, 214v, 215, 216, 216v, 218v, 219v, 221, 221v, 222v, 223v, f.224; historiated initial: f.29.

Provenance
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