1029 - MASTER OF THE GENEVA LATINI (follower of) Book of Hours, in Latin, purpose unknown. Northern France (probably Rouen), c. 1475–1480. Small 4to, 19.5 x 14.0 cm: [120] ff., vellum, Latin text in a brown Gothic script on 15 lines (writing area 10.0 x 7.6 cm), 3 paper endleaves on each side (traces of cuts along the inner margin in several places; probably missing 3 or 4 leaves; some small clear stains or light smudges in the text and on 2 miniatures; later marginal annotation on 85v°). 16th-century brown polished calfskin, boards gilt-stamped with a triple fillet border enclosing 4 large arabesque corner pieces and an oval center piece, 2 brass clasps, spine with raised bands, a.e.g. (joints repaired with brown leather straps, corners restored, clasp nails and endpapers renewed). Contents: Calendar in French, excerpts from the Gospels of St. John and St. Matthew, Hours of the Virgin, Litany of the Saints, Prayer to the Virgin Mary, etc. Illumination: 6 large, gold-highlighted, arched miniatures (11.0 x 7.5 cm), each spanning 4 lines of text, depicting the 4 Evangelists together in a single frame, the Annunciation, Adoration of the Magi, Presentation in the Temple, Nativity, and King David in prayer. Each miniature is set within a three-quarter border featuring peacocks, a dragon, birds, acanthus leaves, grapes, flowers, and foliage. Decoration: One-, two-, and three-line initials and line-ends in blue and red with burnished gold. A few margins feature small floral decoration. Location, attribution, and dating: Calendar featuring local saints of Rouen, such as Ouen, Philibert, Romain, and Mellon. Compositions, style, and details of the illumination by a follower of the Master of the Échevinage de Rouen (or the Master of the Geneva Latini), a large group of prolific artisans who distributed their work throughout Normandy and abroad in the late 15th century. Compare with similar manuscripts in the following auction catalogs: The Library of William Foyle, Part I: Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, London, Christie’s, July 11, 2000, lot 47; Western Manuscripts and Miniatures, London, Sotheby’s, June 17, 2003, lot 93; Paris, Artcurial, June 14, 2017, lot 7. Formerly in the collection of Janne Labbey; a contemporary manuscript annotation at the bottom of p. 1 of the calendar, which could be identified as Janne Labbey, lady of Cormolain, Boussigny, etc., married to Jehan d’Argouges, who died on June 28, 1496, as can be read on his tomb, formerly in the abbey church of Saint Mary at Longues (Calvados, Normandy), now in the Museum of Bayeux (see Revue archéologique, 16th year, No. 1, 1859, p. 184). - G. Martin (2 different modern vignettes).