Unknown
Roundel depicting St. Catherine
c. 1450

Name: Roundel depicting St. Catherine
Brand: Unknown
Rating: 5 (102 reviews)

$7,500List Price

About the Item

Unknown French Art and Workshop, Middle 15th century Roundel depicting St. Catherine (?) Gouache, ink gold wash and gold burnishing on vellum Book of Hours folio attributed to the Circle of Coetivy Master Literature: Cleveland Museum of Art Blackburn Collection, plate 49 According to Eric J. Johnson, Ph.D. at The Ohio State University, this manuscript contains the text for the Office of the Dead. The decorartion and illumination look like mid 15th century French with the script in a nice, pretty formal gothic bookhand. Probably from the Book of Hours prepared according to the Roman Use, which became increasingly common through the 15th century as the manufacture and trade in Books of Hours became more international and standarized. There are many examples of this same text appearing in Uses for York, Salisbury, Paris, etc. so further research is necessary. As for the roundels: The female figure may or may not be St. Katherine. The text in the roundel looks like it could indicate the name "Katherine", but the letters don't really seem to work out to that formulation. The letters actually look more like "lateine", with possible abbreviation marks above the "t" and the "e". The female figure here doesn't really bear any of the symbols associated with Katherine, nor is she a haloed figure. I do know other leaves out there have ascribed various roundels to the life of Katherine, but in isolation this leaf is unconvincing about this. The figure on the verso is a male and the name underneath looks to be "Alexie". This MS is colloquially/popularly known in fragmentology circles as the "St. Alexius Hours", in large part because a series of roundels to seem to depict his legend. I know of at least one art historian who has suggested that the owner/commissioner of the MS was likely named Alexis/Alexius, and this is why the saint is featured here. If This is the case, the images on this leaf might represent the owner (the male figure also bears no icons nor is he haloed) and the female figure may be his wife. All of this, of course, is conjecture, but we must be comfortable with uncertainty when dealing with broken MSS! Psalmus [22]: Dominus regit me, et nihil mihi deerit: in loco pascuae ibi me collocavit. Super aquam refectionis educavit me: animam meam convertit. Deduxit me super semitas iustitiae: propter nomen suum. Nam et si ambulavero in medio umbrae mortis: non timebo mala, quoniam tu mecum es. Virga tua, et baculus tuus: ipsa me consolata sunt. Parasti in conspectu meo mensam: adversus eos qui tribulant me. Impinguasti in oleo caput meum: et calix meus inebrians quam praeclarus est. Et misericordia tua subsequetur me: omnibus diebus vitae meae. Et ut inhabitem in domo Domini: in longitudinem dierum. Psalm [22]: Our Lord ruleth me, and nothing shall be wanting to me: in place of pasture there hath he placed me. Upon the water of refreshing there he hath brought me up: he hath converted my soul. He hath conducted me upon the paths of Justice: for his name. For although I shall walk in the midst of the shadow of death: I will not fear evils, because thou art with me. Thy rod, and thy staff, they have comforted me. Thou hast prepared in my sight a table: against them that trouble me. Thou hast fatted my head with oil: and my drink filling cup, how goodly is it? And thy mercy shall follow me: all the days of my life. And that I may dwell in the house of our Lord for length of days. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them. Ant: In loco pascuae ibi me collocavit. Ant: In place of pasture there hath he placed me. Ant: Delicta. Ant: The offences. Psalm [24]: To thee O Lord have I lifted up my soul: my God in thee I put my confidence, let me not be ashamed. Neither let mine enemies scorn me: for all that expect thee, shall not be confounded. Let all be confounded that do unjust things: in vain. Lord shew me thy ways: and teach me thy paths. Direct me in thy truth, and teach me: because thou art God my saviour, and thee have I expected all the day. Remember O Lord thy tender mercies: and thy pities, that are from the beginning of the world. The sins of my youth: and my ignorance do not remember. According to thy mercy remember thou me: for thy goodness O Lord. Our Lord is sweet, and righteous: for this cause he will give a law to them that sin in the way. He will direct the mild in judgment: he will teach the meek his ways. All the ways of our Lord be mercy, and truth: to them that seek after his testament, and his testimonies. For thy name O Lord shalt be merciful to my sin: for it is much. Who is the man, that feareth our Lord: he appointeth him a law in the way, that he hath chosen. His soul shall abide in good things: and his seed shall inherit the land. Our Lord is a firm stay to them that fear him: and his testament that it may be made manifest unto them. Mine eyes are always to our Lord: because he will pluck my feet out of the snare. Have respect to me, and have mercy on me: because I am alone, and poor. The tribulations of my heart are multiplied: deliver me from my necessities. See my humbleness, and my labour: and forgive all my sins. Behold mine enemies, because they are multiplied: and with unjust hatred have hated me. Keep my soul, and deliver me: I shall not be ashamed, because I have hoped in thee. The innocent and righteous have cleaved to me: because I expected thee. Deliver Israel O God: out of all his tribulations. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Eternal rest give unto them O Lord: and let perpetual light shine unto them. Ant: Delicta iuventutis meae et ignorantias meas ne memineris Domine. Ant: The offences of my youth, and my ignorances remember not O Lord. Ant: Credo videre. Ant: I believe to see.

Creation Year:
c. 1450
Dimensions:
Height: 7.69 in (19.54 cm)Width: 5.63 in (14.31 cm)
Medium:
Gouache,Pigment
Movement & Style:
Old Masters
Period:
15th Century and Earlier
Condition:
Consistent with age and medium.
Gallery Location:
Fairlawn, OH
Reference Number:
Seller: FA86181stDibs: LU14012989132

$2,900

H 11.88 in W 10.88 in D 0.94 in

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Roundel depicting St. Catherine

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Unknown French Art and Workshop, Middle 15th century Roundel depicting St. Catherine (?) Gouache, ink gold wash and gold burnishing on vellum Book of Hours folio attributed to the C...

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