The Book of Hours of Jehan Bernachier

[MANUSCRIPT]

Horae B.M.V. The Prayer Book of Jehan Bernachier, containing a variety of prayers in Latin and French addressed to the Virgin Mary, Christ and numerous saints. Central France (? Tours), last quarter of the 15th century. A Lyonnese binding of circa 1575, brown calf, the covers with a semé of fleurs de lis within gilt rules with azured arabesque corner-pieces, a central medallion on each cover containing the monograms IHS and MA surrounded by cherubs' heads which recur in the five compartments of the spine, edges rough gilt. 5 1/4 x 3 3/8 inches (13.3 x 8.8 cm); illuminated manuscript on vellum, 84 ff. in total (including fourteen flyleaves contemporary with the binding), 15 and 29 lines, apparently complete, ff. 4-32 and 63-70 written in black ink in a large batard liturgical hand, ff. 33-62 written in brown ink in a much smaller similar hand, headings in red, small initials in gold on colored backgrounds, eight large miniatures in arched compartments and sixty-seven small miniatures, full illuminated borders with floral designs, birds, snails, etc., on geometrically patterned backgrounds on every page from f. 4 to f. 32, similar narrower borders on 37 other pages. Edges and joints skilfully repaired, front joint rubbed, a few borders slightly rubbed but generally in good condition.

The binding was probably executed on an extant prayer book for Jehan Bernachier, of Moulins, a "notaire royal," who has recorded the births and baptisms of his seven children (1576-1594) on the flyleaves at the beginning. The manuscript remained in the possession of his descendants until 1796 (thirty-nine later Bernachier births, marriages and deaths are recorded on the flyleaves at the end). Members of the family held various legal offices in the "sénéchaussée" and "siege présidial" of the province of Bourbonnais (of which Moulins was the capital) and they owned the châteaux of La Mothe Morgon and Balleyne.

The subjects of the large miniatures are of the Annunciation, Christ as the Man of Sorrows, Christ in Majesty, the Coronation of the Virgin, the Trinity, the Resurrection, the Crucifixion, and the Celebration of the Mass of Saint Gregory. The many fine small miniatures depict various scenes in the lives of Christ and the Virgin Mary and thirty-four other saints whose cult was popular in France (including SS. Radegund, Opportuna, Adrian and Claude). St. Catherine is shown in seven small miniatures that accompany the Hours in her honor. Though the text hand differs substantially across the three sections, the miniatures seem comparatively uniform in style, and are likely all from the one workshop, perhaps added to existing illuminated prayers.

Provenance: Sotheby's sale Berry, December 13th, 1965, lot 201
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