Description
This leaf survives from what must have been an extraordinarily rich book of hours. The elaborate Passion cycle and Suffrages point to an important patron. Internal evidence within the original calendar and texts indicates that Metz was the probable place of production. Stylistically, the illuminations appear to come from the workshop of Henri d’Orquevaulx, a documented Metz manuscript painter. Compositionally, structurally, and stylistically, the miniatures suggest strong links to Netherlandish illumination. It is not known whether d’Orquevaulx came originally from the Netherlands or whether he simply worked or trained there at some point in his career.
Provenance
Jehan de Poncy (d. 1605) and his wife, Marguerite (before 1539 - after 1541); Bartlett Gurney (1756-1803), Norwich, England, bequeathed to his aunt Catherine Gurney; Catherine Gurney (1776–1850), Norwich, England, gifted to Rev. Edward Edwards (-1808); Rev. Edward Edwards (1766-1849), Lynn, Norfolk, bequeathed to his godson William Hay Gurney, nephew of Catherine Gurney (1808-); William Hay Gurney (1827-1898), North Princeton; Sale: Christie's New York, April 7, 1978, Lot 226 (April 7, 1978); [Bruce Ferrini (1950-2010), Akron, OH, sold to Jeanne Miles Blackburn]; Ms. Jeanne Miles Blackburn, Maitland, Fl, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art (-1999); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1999-)
Annunciation to the Shepherds: Leaf from a Book of Hours (1 of 6 Excised Leaves)
Henri d'Orquevaulxc. 1420–30
Accession Number
1999.128
Medium
ink, tempera, and gold on vellum
Dimensions
Each leaf: 16.1 x 12.4 cm (6 5/16 x 4 7/8 in.)
Classification
Manuscript
Credit Line
The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection