Master of Foljambe (active in France, Grenoble?, second half of the 15th century)
Saint Luke at his desk, c. 1465-1470
Illuminated leaf from a large Book of Hours.
Tempera, ink and gold on parchment.
Tempera, ink and gold on parchment.
240 x 163 mm (framed: 40.5 x 32 cm).
price on request
This impressive and exquisite illuminated leaf depicting Saint Luke at his desk is painted by an intriguing and rare illuminator called the Foljambe Master. He is named after a lavishing...
This impressive and exquisite illuminated leaf depicting Saint Luke at his desk is painted by an intriguing and rare illuminator called the Foljambe Master. He is named after a lavishing Book of Hours made circa 1455-1460 and once owned by the nobleman Francis Ferrand Foljambe (Aldwark, North Yorkshire, 1749-Osberton Hall, 1814) now in private hands. Only a few artworks have been attributed to this master, who remains mysterious: besides the Book of Hours previously in the Fojambe collection, the anonymous master is only responsible for a Book of Hours (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms. nouv. acq. lat. 28877), an exemplar of the Fiore di Vertu (New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, ms. M. 771) and exemplar of the Vie de notre Seigneur (Oxford, Bodleian Library, ms. Douce 134), an exemplar of the Histoire ancienne jusqu'à César (Oxford, Bodleian Library, ms. Douce 353) and a miniature of Saint Mark (Philadelphia Free Library, ms. E M 10:6). Based on stylistic analysis, the Master of Foljambe was mainly active in Dauphiné (France), probably in Grenoble. However, the artist shows stylistic similarities with manuscripts made in Lyons or Geneva.
According to the impressive size of the present cutting, it was once part of a very large and richly illuminated Book of Hours made for an unknown patron who was certainly established in Dauphiné, probably Grenoble (France) as the region's coat of arms appear on the desk. To date, this miniature is the only known witness of what was a very precious Book of Hours by the Master of Foljambe.
We thank Dr. Mireia Castaño and Alix Buisseret for their expertise.
According to the impressive size of the present cutting, it was once part of a very large and richly illuminated Book of Hours made for an unknown patron who was certainly established in Dauphiné, probably Grenoble (France) as the region's coat of arms appear on the desk. To date, this miniature is the only known witness of what was a very precious Book of Hours by the Master of Foljambe.
We thank Dr. Mireia Castaño and Alix Buisseret for their expertise.
Provenance
Part of a large and Book of Hours illuminated in the Dauphiné (France), probably in Grenoble, circa 1465-1470 by the Master of Foljambe for an unknown patron.ess.The original owner of the Book of Hours remains unknown but was surely established in the Dauphiné as the coat of arms of the region (écartelé en 1 et 4 aux trois fleurs de lys et au 2 et 3 au dauphin) appear on the desk under the coat of arms of France.
The Book of Hours was broken-up at an unknown date; the provenance of our leaf can be traced back as follows:
Germany, private collection.
Königstein im Taunus, Reiss & Sohn, May 5, 2020, lot 69 (as "France Paris ? circa 1460").
European private collection.
Literature
UnpublishedFurther readings
E. König, Tour de France. 32 Manuskripte aus den Regionen Frankreichs 13. bis 16. Jahrhundert, Heribert Tenschert, Ramsen, 2013, vol. I, p. 112-130, n°4.
S. Fogg, Medieval Women. Subjects and Markers of Art, exhibition catalogue (London, Sam Fogg, 25 February-31 March 2021), Sam Fogg Ltd., 2021, p. 118.
M. Castaño, Le Maître du Roman de la Rose de Vienne, Cinisello Balsamo, 2022, p. 107.