Book of Hours, Use of Rome. France, likely Anjou, ca. late 15th century. Illuminated manuscript on parchment. Leaves approximately 130 x 75mm (5 1/8" x 3".) Text in 18 lines. 130 leaves (of approx. 136), WITH 6 LARGE MINIATURES including 5 surrounded by borders and 1 of the same age but added later. Text with numerous gold capital letters over a red or blue ground. Bound in ca. 19th century purple velvet with sliver clasp, and housed in a modern drop-spine case.The probable Anjou provenance is attested to by the saints mentioned in the calendar and in the Litany. Saint Maurilius (patron saint of Angers) is remembered, as is Licinius (bishop of Angers.) The first leaf bears an 18th century ownership signature of Deslundel(?)An attractive book of hours, probably made for a nun. The miniatures are attributable to a follower of the Charpentier Master, who was active in Tours from around 1475 to 1490 and has been identified as the "Charpentier Master" due to a book of hours made by him around 1485 for Jean Charpentier. The oldest work attributed to him is a book of hours produced for the Juvenal des Ursins family in 1472 (Pierpont Morgan Library, ms. M.366.) His workshop was based in Tours, though he produced illuminated manuscripts for customers in neighboring areas such as Anjou and Poitou. A rather unique feature of the present work is the presence of blue eyes to many figures, probably derived from Bourdichon, with whom the Charpentier Master collaborated. The added miniature is attributable to Francois Le Barbier (active 1460-1480), who was a direct successor of the Master of Jean Rolin. The quality of the King David is suggestive of his hand and the building in the background shows the hospital of Beaune with his characteristic decorated roof. Provenance: From a private collection. With a European export license, a copy of which will be supplied to the winning bidder (in a redacted form to maintain the consignor's privacy.)

Trimmed with slight loss of miniature's borders, some light finger-soiling