THE REID GIFT.—II
One of the most interesting of the Italian manuscripts is a Book of Hours—Officium Beatae Virginis Marine secundum consuetudinem Romanae Curiae—belonging to the early part of the sixteenth century, and evidently made for a member of the famous Bentivoglio family: perhaps Giovanni, born in 1505. The Bentivoglio arms appear on the first page; on folio 41 in two cartouches within the border are the words IOANNES, BEN; and on folio 109, in one cartouche similarly placed, IO·BEN. The writing of this volume is very good; the more important initials are well drawn, and pleasantly placed in architectural compartments decorated above and below with the characteristic ornament of the period. Indeed one would say that the composition and arrangement of the less ornate pages of the book are its best features. There are twenty-two full-page illuminations, each containing an elaborate initial, within a rich border of brightly-coloured arabesque ornament, generally in compartments. The decoration is well drawn and distributed, though the drawing of the figures in the initials, and of the half-human grotesques in the borders, leaves something to be desired. An interesting and useful feature—though one by no means uncommon—is the use of jewellery to give relief to the arabesques. ¶ From the calligraphic point of view only, a tall folio of the four Gospels, with commentary (Italian, twelfth century), is possibly the most important of the gift, and should be especially useful to students. The text is written in a large minuscule character, beautifully spaced and proportioned, occupying the centre of each page. In either margin occur the notes in much smaller writing. Practically the whole decoration consists of initials in blue and red, with here and there a rare display of bold but simple pen-drawn ornament and a few chapter headings of tall, cramped lettering, of which the initial has never been supplied. A ‘Thesaurus’ of St. Cyril of Alexandria is another valuable example of fine Italian writing; in this instance, of the end of the fifteenth century in date. A border and a few fine initials in gold, blue, pale red and green of cunningly contrived interlacements—in the case of the border further embellished with amorini, birds, etc.—are the only decorations of note. This volume also includes a work by St. John Chrysostom, and formerly belonged to the Minutoli Tegrimi family of Lucca, whose stamp defaces some of the pages. A small Book of Hours is to be referred to the same period and locality as the latter; it has, however, much more elaborate decoration; the superposition of numerous beasts, birds, and insects on the interlacing scroll-work of the borders, is, though interesting, by no means an improvement. These animals are, it must be admitted, rendered with curious care; while the two full-page miniatures adorning the volume, as it stands, are of quite a high order of merit. They represent The Annunciation and David killing Goliath—a particularly spirited drawing, with a beautiful little miniature of the Man of Sorrows in a cartouche on the page facing it; four storied initials within borders also serve to mark the commencements of various offices. The capitals, in gold, on these pages are very finely written. The kalendar is complete, and contains references to several local saints, indicating Umbria as the district for use in which it was made. ¶ A Missal belonging in date to the beginning of the fifteenth century, is a good example of Italian writing adorned with fine pen-drawn scrolls and storied initials treated in a broad, simple style of colouring and foliage. The pen-work, interesting for its restraint and formality, differs greatly in this respect from that of the more northern schools. There are sixteen large storiated initials, of which attention may be drawn to those on folios 283, a Monstrance displayed on an altar; 292, the Celebration of Mass; and a representation of the absolutions at the side of a dead man, clothed and hooded in red and lying on a couch; the prayer is read by a monk in a white habit, attended by another similarly dressed who supports a tall cross which has lighted candles on either arm. The kalendar is very full, and has been corrected in a later handwriting in several places. Immediately following it, in two pages of small script, is the Ordo ad faciendum aquā bn̄dictam. ¶ A small Italian Book of Hours is archaeologically interesting because it is signed in a colophon on folio 266. ‘Frater paulus de mediolano ordīs scī B’tholomei de hermineis sc’psit’ (late fifteenth century). The name of this writer is believed to be unrecorded hitherto; the script is thoroughly Italian in character, but the decoration has decided Netherlandish tendencies. Several northern saints are inserted in the kalendar—by another hand—including St. Brandan. ¶ In conclusion mention may be made of a small Book of Devotions with borders and miniatures of considerable merit and interest, placed within architectural frames. On the first page is a coat of arms, which however has evidently been superimposed on an earlier design. The writing is good and the initials well placed and coloured. At the end on a tablet are the initials S.H., but these have not been identified. The work is French, probably southern, and in date belongs to the first half of the sixteenth century. ¶ The works mentioned in these notes are only a few of the large collection given by Mr. Reid. They are all now exhibited near the entrance to the National Art Library.
E. F. S.