Book of Hours for the use of Rome,
Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510.
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 1v-2r God instructing Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, scene spread over a double page
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 3v-4r February: Hunting magpies and Pisces as two fishermen at a pond
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 4v-5r March: Pruning vines and Aries as two boys carrying lambs
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 5v-6r April: Courtly love – winding wreaths in a garden and Taurus as a bull encountering a boy with a stick
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 6v-7r May: Courtly love – outing on horseback and Gemini shown as a naked couple hiding in the shrubbery
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 7v-8r June: Work in the fields and rest in the country and Cancer
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 8v-9r July: Harvest and Leo
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 9v-10r August: Hunting scene and Virgo
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 10v-11r September: Vintage and Libra
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 11v-12r October: Sowing and ploughing and Scorpio
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 12v-13r November: Hawking Scene and Sagittarius
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 13v-14r December: Wild boar hunting scene and Capricorn
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 23v-24r Annunciation with Mary and the archangel Gabriel on two separate pages
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 41v Arrest of Christ and Judas’ Betrayal
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 42v Pentecost
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 43v-44r Nativity and Shepherds in Prayer
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 46v-47r Shepherds heading to the stable and Annunciation to the Shepherds
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 49v-50r Adoration of the Magi and Arrival of the Magi
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 52v-53r Presentation in the Temple and Virgin giving Christ Child a pear while Joseph is sleeping
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 55v-56r Christ among the Doctors and Massacre of the Innocents
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 59v-60r Rest on the return from Egypt and Coronation of the Virgin
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 63v-64r Bathsheba bathing, while David is spying from a window (f); David hands over the letter with Uriah’s death sentence (f) on two separate pages
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
ff. 74v-75r The Three Dead and the Three Living (f) on two separate pages
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 96v Donor in prayer
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 105r Virgin and Child, with bird (goldfinch?)
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 129r Lawrence
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 139r Mary Magdalene
Hide caption
Book of Hours for the use of Rome, Manuscript in Latin and in French on vellum, illuminated by the Master of Spencer 6.
France, Bourges, c. 1500-1510
f. 155v Jerome in penance with his lion
Hide caption
liquid gold, 35 small miniatures and 7 historiated initials by the Master of Spencer 6
Four stunning double-page compositions and twenty-eight other large miniatures compliment the text of this beguiling Book of Hours in a lively style.
Interestingly, some of the smaller illuminated miniatures were a later addition, painted over already-written text passages, a detail which adds a trace of this manuscript's production process to the overall beauty of the work. Even more unusual is the choice of iconography by the artist, wherein the true character and charm of the book truly shines. Scenes like the “Rest on the Return from Egypt” (f. 59v) were chosen instead of the better known “Flight into Egypt”. The “Arrival of the Three Magi” features one of the wise men riding an elephant, while the usual scene of the “Adoration of the Magi” is featured on the opposite page to tell the next chapter of the story. This magnificent prayerbook exhibits an innovative approach to devotional illustration. Its intricately decorated calendar pages, which portray scenes such as wine-making, swine-killing, and falling in love, suggest that the Master of Spencer 6 had been inspired by the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.
The patron of this impressive work is difficult to identify: while forms of the poem Obsecro te are in the masculine, suggesting a male patron, the G and H initials found tied in a lover’s bow in the borders and in a column on f. 53r suggest a dual-patronage. One can also find portraits within the manuscript and a mysterious figure (potentially a knight) praying before Christ in Majesty (f. 93r). Perhaps in the future, scholars will be able to ascertain the identity of the patron of this stunning work, however the near-perfect condition of the miniatures and detailed calendar pages speak for themselves.
