This mid-fifteenth-century illuminated
Book of Hours is written entirely in Dutch on fine parchment, and is remarkable
for its eighteen grisaille miniatures. The technique, wherein the figures are
modeled primarily in a gray wash, became a favorite in the Netherlands, and the
hand behind the paintings in this manuscript has been identified with a group of
artists known as the "Masters of the Delft Grisailles." This manuscript has been
grouped with more than a dozen related works, including New York PML M. 349,
London, Victoria and Albert Geo. Reid Ms. 32, Leiden B.P.L. 224, Brussels, BR
21696, Antwerp, Plantin Moretus Ms. 49, and The Hague K.B. Ms. 74 G 35. The
manuscript is comprised of 152 folios and is almost completely intact, lacking
only two miniatures, and retains its original brown leather binding decorated
with mythological beasts and a now illegible inscription. The calendar is for
the use of Utrecht, which helps localize its original ownership, as might a
mostly erased ownership inscription that has been partially recovered. Good
impressions of two circular pilgrim badges, now removed, are visible on fol.
112v. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W165/description.html
This illuminated manuscript is a document
of the first importance in the history of Dutch manuscript illumination, and it
contains an important medieval Dutch devotional text. The Tafel van den Kersten
Ghelove is a compendium of Christian knowledge written by a learned Dominican,
Dirc van Delf. The text is in two parts, one for winter, and one for summer.
This manuscript is of the winter part, and it is incomplete, omitting the
prologue and chapters 13,14, and 35-57. The arms of the Bavarian Counts of
Holland and the kneeling owner on fol. 1 indicate that this manuscript was the
actual copy prepared for the dedicatee of the text, Albrecht of Bavaria, Count
of Holland, from the original text of his chaplain, and is therefore to be dated
to 1404 at the latest, when Albrecht died. The manuscript consists of 165 folios
and contains 35 historiated initials. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W171/description.html
This Book of Hours was named the
Doffinnes Hours after Franchoise de Doffinnes, who owned the book in the late
sixteenth century and whose family’s subsequent history remains chronicled on
the book’s final folios. However, the manuscript was originally made in the
first quarter of the fifteenth century, probably for a married couple, who were
originally represented kneeling with scrolls and their coats of arms in the
margins, flanking a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion (fol. 72v), but whose
figures and arms were later erased and overpainted with white. The manuscript
contains both Latin and Dutch texts, supplemented by twelve full-page
miniatures, the work of the Master of Walters 185. The manuscript also contains
twelve pen-and-ink decorated initials in the calendar, some with grotesque
faces, and letter "G" descenders throughout the book that can be attributed to
the scribe Johannes de Malborch. The book’s original Dutch provenance is
indicated by its calendar (for the Use of Utrecht) and its Hours of the Virgin,
which follows predominantly the Use of the Windesheim Congregation. Prayers in
Dutch were added to the end of the volume in the late fifteenth or early
sixteenth century, and the book was subsequently rebound with its current
cream-colored parchment binding of the seventeenth or eighteenth century. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W185/description.html
This illuminated Book of Hours was
produced in the second quarter of the fifteenth century. It is written in the
Netherlandish translation of Geert Grote. Although lacking in full-page
miniatures, the manuscript contains eighteen historiated initials by the Masters
of Zweder van Culemborg with ornamental initials and decoration
throughout. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W188/description.html
These are images of Walters Ms. W.782, Van Alphen Hours, on parchment, Middle of the 15th century. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W782/description.html [NOTE: Cataloging in process]
This Book of Hours was created in Zwolle,
Netherlands, ca. 1470. It belongs to the group of “Sarijs manuscripts,” which
was named after the erroneous citation in most works that identifies the
manuscripts as belonging to the same group of “Sarijs” instead of “Marijs” on
January 19 of their calendars (also found in W. 918). In a study of this group
by Lydia Wierda, the author suggests that these manuscripts were copied by
students at the school of the Brethren of the Common Life in Zwolle and also
decorated and illustrated in that city (although possibly by professional
illuminators) during the period ca. 1470-90 (see Wierda, De
Sarijs-handschriften). All of the principal decorative schemes and motifs in
W.918, as well as the compositions of its miniatures, have close counterparts in
other manuscripts belonging to the group. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W918/description.html
These are images of Walters Ms. W.182, Prayer book, on parchment, Third quarter of the 15th century (ca. 1470). For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W182/description.html [NOTE: Cataloging in process]
These are images of Walters Ms. W.834, Prayer book, on parchment, Dated 1475 . For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W834/description.html [NOTE: Cataloging in process]
These are images of Walters Ms. W.192, Book of Hours, on parchment, 15th century CE. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W192/description.html [NOTE: Cataloging in process]
These are images of Walters Ms. W.167, Amherst Hours, on parchment, written by Suso, Henry, 1295-1366, known as Henricus Suso, known as Heinrich Seuse, 15th century. For full description, see http://www.thedigitalwalters.org/Data/WaltersManuscripts/html/W167/description.html [NOTE: Cataloging in process]