Book of Hours (use of Besançon); illuminated manuscript on vellum; in Latin and French. 217 ff., preceded and followed by one paper leaf, incomplete; Gothic Bastarda, brown, red and blue ink, liquid gold; one column, ruled for 14 lines; 13 illuminations all by the Master of the Troyes Missal; 12 4-lines decorated initials, 10 3-lines decorated initials; 108 small 1-line decorated initials; 2 illuminated leaves with richly decorated borders on four sides; 11 leaves with small floral ornaments. Leather binding on wood, 16th century.

This charming Book of Hours was made circa 1460 in Troyes or Besançon by the Master of the Troyes Missal, an illuminator that François Avril describes as "la personnalité la plus marquante de l'enluminure troyenne à partir de la moitié du XVe siècle" (i. e., the most striking personality of Troyes illumination from the mid-15th century). This illuminator is named after the magnificent Missal made for a private chapel in Troyes, today preserved in the national library of France, in Paris (ms. lat. 865A). His recognizable style is characterized by a graphic touch and effective compositions, as well as relatively expressive figures with stout bodies. The Master of the Troyes Missal is the only illuminator active in Troyes in the mid-15th century to have succeeded in establishing a local tradition: before his arrival, the art of illumination in Troyes was conditioned by the artists and the libraries in Paris.

Studied mainly by experts John Plummer and François Avril, the Master of the Troyes Missal is today recognized as an important artist responsible for several manuscripts, especially books of hours for the use of Troyes. Notable examples of the Master of the Troyes Missal manuscripts include the Hours of Louis XVIII (Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, ms. lat. 10539), the Book of Hours for the use of Langres (Cambridge, Harvard University, Houghton Library, ms. typ. 21), and the charming Book of Hours for the use of Troyes (Philadelphia Free Library, Lewis E 133).

TEXT
ff. 1-12v: calendar
ff. 13-17v: Obsecro te (masculine)
ff. 17v-22: O intemerata (masculine)
ff. 22-25v: Prayer to the Virgin Te matrem Dei laudamus
ff. 26-90: Hours of the Virgin, for the use of Besançon, incomplete (Matines fol. 26; Laudes fol. 38; Prime fol. 52; Tierce fol. 57v; Sexte fol. 62; None fol. 67; Vespres fol. 72; Complies fol. 82v)
ff. 90-102: Hours of the cross and Hours of the holy spirit, incomplete
ff. 102v-106: Prayer to the Virgin Missa de beata Virgine Marie
ff. 106-114v: gospels sequences (Luke fol. 106; John fol. 109v; Mathew fol. 111; Complies fol. 82v);
ff. 115-142; penitential psalms (with litanies ff. 129-134v)
ff. 142v-144: prayer for the dead Avete omnes fideles
ff. 144v-176: seven prayers of St. Gregory
ff. 176v-193v: suffrages
ff. 194-205: prayer to Jesus Christ and oratio Gracia ago tibi
ff. 205v-207v: protest of faith Mon benoit Dieu, je croy de coeur, added, in French
ff. 207v-209v: prayer Anima Christi sanctifica me, added, in Latin
ff. 210-217v: oration Missus est gabriel angelus.

ILLUMINATIONS
fol. 115: King David praying (full-page miniature with illuminated border)
fol. 179: Saint Michael (large miniature)
fol. 180: Saint John the Baptist (large miniature)
fol. 181: Saints Peter and Paul (large miniature)
fol. 182: Saint James (large miniature)
fol. 183: Saint Andrew (large miniature)
fol. 184: Saint Christopher (large miniature)
fol. 186v: Saint Adrian (large miniature)
fol. 188: Saint Sebastian (large miniature)
fol. 189v: Saint Claudio (large miniature)
fol. 191v: Saint Anatole (large miniature)
fol. 192v: Saint Bernardin of Siena (large miniature)
fol. 200: Last Judgment (full-page miniature with illuminated borders)