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

Leaf, cropped, from a Book of Hours, with half-page miniature of the stoning of St Stephen, with bas-de-page scenes of St Stephen preaching from a pulpit and conversing with two men.
Rubric: Oroison de saint Estienne. Sernans in celum
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 3267. 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 Chief 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 Stephen, who was the earliest Christian martyr. His life is described in the New Testament book of the Acts of the Apostles. He was accused of speaking blasphemous words against the God of Moses and was taken in front of the Sanhedrin (the highest court of justice and supreme council in ancient Jerusalem). He was stoned to death.

E.4580-1910