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Leaf from a Book of Hours

Manuscript Cutting
ca. 1440-1450 (illuminated)
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.


Object details
Categories
Object type
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
  • Height: 120mm
  • Width: 85mm
  • Written area height: 65mm
  • Written area width: 45mm
Object history
Collection of Frédéric Spitzer (1815-1890): his sale, 17 April 1893. Collection of George Salting (1835-1909): acquired with the George Salting Bequest in 1910.

Other leaves from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: E.4580-1910, E.4581-1910, E.4582-1910, E.4583-1910.
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
  • Catalogue of Miniatures, Leaves, and Cuttings from Illuminated Manuscripts. Victoria and Albert Museum. Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, by S.C. Cockerell and C. Harcourt Smith (London: HMSO, 1923, 2nd edition). p. 66.
  • Burlington Fine Arts Club: Exhibition of Illuminated Manuscripts, London: printed for the Burlington Fine Arts Club, 1908. no. 220.
  • Hindman, S., Medieval and Renaissance miniature painting (Bruce Ferrini & Sam Fogg, 1988), pp. 123, 125-7.
  • Marrow, J., The Hours of Simon de Varie, Malibu, 1994, pp. 17, 98 n. 21'
Other number
1229 - Salting Bequest
Collection
Accession number
E.4581-1910

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Record createdFebruary 4, 2004
Record URL
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