[MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT IMITATION]
[MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT FORGERY]
Nativity Scene; 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi'.
[c.19th C.]
Single one-sided manuscript leaf on vellum (14 x 18.5cm approx); blank to verso; featuring a nativity scene painted in full colour, featuring Jesus, Mary and Joseph along with a donkey, ox, and three cherubs, two sitting atop the stable building and one standing alongside the family; with countryside scene featuring a castle to the backdrop; the figures nimbed in gold; with two lines of text 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi', terminating in a truncated word, surrounded by a full border with acanthus leaves and ivy; at some point pasted to another page, perhaps an album, with remains of tape and glue to the upper edge of verso; a beautifully decorated example.
Circa 19th century imitation, or perhaps forgery, imitating a leaf from a 15th century book of hours, with nativity scene.
It is unknown why the artist took such pains to replicate this style. Perhaps it was simply an innocent imitation from someone attempting to reproduce the craft, or perhaps they were intending to pass off the image as a genuine fragment. The faces and garments of the figures, however, as well as the castle presiding over the background, are overwhelmingly Renaissence in style. Furthermore, the pigmentation, specifically of the blue, suggests that it was created from the 19th century invention of cobalt - we would expect indigo, or even lapiz lazuli, from a true 15th century painting. The parchment itself would most likely be found in the British Isles, and not a continential manuscript. Furthermore, the illuminated initial is not in keeping with the palaeography of the era, certainly unlike any we have seen in continental manuscripts of the era. It is furthermore unusual to have the text so truncated, especially with the verso blank. While it may be possible that the page was intended to be tipped-in to an unilluminated book of hours, it is more likely that this page was copied from an extant leaf.
Replica or otherwise, and regardless of intention, this is a stunningly decorative artwork in and of itself.
[MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT FORGERY]
Nativity Scene; 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi'.
[c.19th C.]
Single one-sided manuscript leaf on vellum (14 x 18.5cm approx); blank to verso; featuring a nativity scene painted in full colour, featuring Jesus, Mary and Joseph along with a donkey, ox, and three cherubs, two sitting atop the stable building and one standing alongside the family; with countryside scene featuring a castle to the backdrop; the figures nimbed in gold; with two lines of text 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi', terminating in a truncated word, surrounded by a full border with acanthus leaves and ivy; at some point pasted to another page, perhaps an album, with remains of tape and glue to the upper edge of verso; a beautifully decorated example.
Circa 19th century imitation, or perhaps forgery, imitating a leaf from a 15th century book of hours, with nativity scene.
It is unknown why the artist took such pains to replicate this style. Perhaps it was simply an innocent imitation from someone attempting to reproduce the craft, or perhaps they were intending to pass off the image as a genuine fragment. The faces and garments of the figures, however, as well as the castle presiding over the background, are overwhelmingly Renaissence in style. Furthermore, the pigmentation, specifically of the blue, suggests that it was created from the 19th century invention of cobalt - we would expect indigo, or even lapiz lazuli, from a true 15th century painting. The parchment itself would most likely be found in the British Isles, and not a continential manuscript. Furthermore, the illuminated initial is not in keeping with the palaeography of the era, certainly unlike any we have seen in continental manuscripts of the era. It is furthermore unusual to have the text so truncated, especially with the verso blank. While it may be possible that the page was intended to be tipped-in to an unilluminated book of hours, it is more likely that this page was copied from an extant leaf.
Replica or otherwise, and regardless of intention, this is a stunningly decorative artwork in and of itself.
[MEDIEVAL MANUSCRIPT FORGERY]
Nativity Scene; 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi'.
[c.19th C.]
Single one-sided manuscript leaf on vellum (14 x 18.5cm approx); blank to verso; featuring a nativity scene painted in full colour, featuring Jesus, Mary and Joseph along with a donkey, ox, and three cherubs, two sitting atop the stable building and one standing alongside the family; with countryside scene featuring a castle to the backdrop; the figures nimbed in gold; with two lines of text 'Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax homi', terminating in a truncated word, surrounded by a full border with acanthus leaves and ivy; at some point pasted to another page, perhaps an album, with remains of tape and glue to the upper edge of verso; a beautifully decorated example.
Circa 19th century imitation, or perhaps forgery, imitating a leaf from a 15th century book of hours, with nativity scene.
It is unknown why the artist took such pains to replicate this style. Perhaps it was simply an innocent imitation from someone attempting to reproduce the craft, or perhaps they were intending to pass off the image as a genuine fragment. The faces and garments of the figures, however, as well as the castle presiding over the background, are overwhelmingly Renaissence in style. Furthermore, the pigmentation, specifically of the blue, suggests that it was created from the 19th century invention of cobalt - we would expect indigo, or even lapiz lazuli, from a true 15th century painting. The parchment itself would most likely be found in the British Isles, and not a continential manuscript. Furthermore, the illuminated initial is not in keeping with the palaeography of the era, certainly unlike any we have seen in continental manuscripts of the era. It is furthermore unusual to have the text so truncated, especially with the verso blank. While it may be possible that the page was intended to be tipped-in to an unilluminated book of hours, it is more likely that this page was copied from an extant leaf.
Replica or otherwise, and regardless of intention, this is a stunningly decorative artwork in and of itself.