Leaf from a Book of Hours with half-page miniature showing scenes from the life of St Julian by the Dunois Master; French (Paris); ca 1440-1450

Leaf, with scenes from the life of St Julian. Half-page miniature showing St Julian on white horse with two dogs and huntsman and huntsman confronting deer with 8 pointed antlers; bas-de-page scene of saint Julian drawing his sword in a room where a couple is sleeping in a bed. Saint identified with the inscription "S. Iuliane".
Inscribed on the frame; borders of acanthus, fruit and flowers
Rubric (on recto): De sancto Iuliano, A'. Hospes Christi Iuliane
12 lines.

Probably made in the 1450s for a member of the Jouvenel des Ursins family (see Reynaud, Avril, 1993).
Collection of Frédéric Spitzer (1815-1890): his sale, 17 April 1893, lot 3270. Collection of George Salting (1835-1909): acquired with the George Salting Bequest in 1910.
Leaves from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: E.4580-1910, E.4581-1910, E.4582-1910, E.4583-1910.
Other leaves from the same manuscript in other collections: Side wound of Christ, Paris, Musée Marmottan, Wildenstein Collection, M6190 (formerly Ms. 149). Unlocated leaves: Angels and instruments of the Passion (Spitzer, lot 3263), St Barbara (Spitzer, lot 3264), Crucifixion (Spitzer, lot 3265), St Donatian and St Rogatian (Spitzer, lot 3266), St Mandé (Spitzer, lot 3271; Ferrini, Sam Fogg 1989, no. 27 (Hindman)), Entombment (Spitzer lot 3272; Ferrini, Sam Fogg 1989, no. 26 (Hindman); last seen on the market: Sotheby's, London, 6 July 2010, lot 19), St Germanus of Auxerre (Spitzer, lot 3273; Ferrini, Sam Fogg 1989, no. 26 (Hindman)), Baptism of Christ and Beheading of St John the Baptist (Spitzer, lot 3274; Ferrini, Sam Fogg 1989, no. 28 (Hindman)), St Dominic burning pagan books (Spitzer, lot 3275), St Joachim, St Anne and the Virgin (Spitzer, lot 3276), Deposition and Pietà (Spitzer, lot 3277), St Christopher (Spitzer, lot 3278), Burial scene (Sotheby's, 17 June 1997, lot 27).

The Dunois Master was once known as 'The principal associate of the Bedford Master'. The Bedford Master took his name from two outstanding manuscripts made for John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford and brother of Henry V, victor at Agincourt in 1415. The Bedford Master's style was widely practised in Paris. The Dunois Master appears to have adopted most closely the painting style and models of the Bedford Master.

This miniature shows scenes from the life of St Julian, who came from an artistocratic background. A stag foretold that he would accidentally kill his parents. One night in Julian's absence his wife allowed his parents to sleep in his bed. Upon his return he killed them, mistakenly assuming that they were his wife and her lover. To make reparation for his sins he set up a hospice by a ford where travellers could find refuge.

E.4583-1910