Leaf from a Book of Hours
Manuscript Cutting
1450s (made)
1450s (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Dunois Master was once known as 'The principle associate of the Bedford Master'. The Bedford Master took his name from two outstanding manuscripts made for John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. John of Lancaster was the brother of Henry V (ruled 1413-22), who won the great victory of Agincourt against the French in 1415. The Bedford Master's style was widely practised in Paris. The Dunois Master appears to have adopted his painting style and models most closely.
The miniature on this leaf comes from a Book of Hours, a type of prayer book used by lay people. It shows scenes from the life of St Apollonia, a holy virgin who was martyred in Alexandria in Egypt during a local uprising against the Christians. Apollonia was seized and had all her teeth broken by the mob. They then erected a pile of faggots outside the city gates and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words. Apollonia sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death.
The miniature on this leaf comes from a Book of Hours, a type of prayer book used by lay people. It shows scenes from the life of St Apollonia, a holy virgin who was martyred in Alexandria in Egypt during a local uprising against the Christians. Apollonia was seized and had all her teeth broken by the mob. They then erected a pile of faggots outside the city gates and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words. Apollonia sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Leaf from a Book of Hours (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Water-based pigments, gilding and ink on parchment |
| Brief description | Leaf from a Book of Hours with half-page miniature showing a scene from the Life of St Apollonia by the Dunois Master; French (Paris); ca 1440-1450 |
| Physical description | Leaf, with half-page miniature showing the Martyrdom of St Apollonia, with torturer extracting teeth and three onlookers, within an interior with a window showing countryside, 3-line initial; in bas-de-page Apolonia being led by two men and scroll with inscription "tormenta vestra non dubito pro nomie"; Full border of acanthus and flowers, with cornflowers and cockerel and bird. Rubric: Oroison de sainte Appoline. Virgo Christi egregia 12 lines. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | 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 3268. 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). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | The Dunois Master was once known as 'The principle associate of the Bedford Master'. The Bedford Master took his name from two outstanding manuscripts made for John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford. John of Lancaster was the brother of Henry V (ruled 1413-22), who won the great victory of Agincourt against the French in 1415. The Bedford Master's style was widely practised in Paris. The Dunois Master appears to have adopted his painting style and models most closely. The miniature on this leaf comes from a Book of Hours, a type of prayer book used by lay people. It shows scenes from the life of St Apollonia, a holy virgin who was martyred in Alexandria in Egypt during a local uprising against the Christians. Apollonia was seized and had all her teeth broken by the mob. They then erected a pile of faggots outside the city gates and threatened to burn her alive if she refused to repeat after them impious words. Apollonia sprang quickly into the fire and was burned to death. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | 1229 - Salting Bequest |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.4581-1910 |
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| Record created | February 4, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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