Mary Stuart's Book of Hours and Execution Warrant
Mary Stuart, the Catholic Queen of Scotland, was the owner of a wondrous book of hours with numerous Flemish miniatures. These are counted among the best of what exists from 16th illumination in Flanders. Precious small paintings are depicted in gorgeous, luminous colors and are gilded in many places. This gem of illumination is accompanied by a document steeped in history: the execution warrant of Mary Stuart, signed by Queen Elizabeth I on February 1st, 1587. This compendium offers a glimpse into the life of one of the most tragic figures in history.
Mary Stuart's Book of Hours and Execution Warrant
Mary Stuart, the Catholic Queen of Scotland and France, was the owner of a wonderful book of hours with numerous Flemish miniatures. This is counted among the most beautiful surviving specimens of early 16th century Flemish illumination. Valuable small paintings are depicted in gorgeous, luminous colors, splendidly gilded in some places. This gem of illumination is accompanied by a document steeped in history: the Execution Warrant of Mary Stuart, signed by the English Queen Elizabeth I on February 1st, 1587. This compendium offers a glimpse into the life of one of the most tragic figures in history.
A Tragic Document
The commissioner of the book of hours was the famous Mary Stuart (1542β1587). The Catholic Queen of Scotland had to abandon her country because of political and religious unrest and flee to England. New tensions with the Queen of England, Elizabeth I, nourished Mary Stuartβs hopes for the English throne. After she was suspected to have participated in a planned assassination attempt, she was executed for high treason on February 7th, 1587. The death sentence, which is dated February 1st, 1587, carries the signature of Queen Elizabeth I at the bottom of the page. Today this death sentence is stored in the Lambeth Palace Library and represents an important testimonial of English history.
The Book of Hours: Her Solace in the Last Hours
The book of hours was the private prayer book of the Queen, which accompanied her in her final hours. It gave her solace and relief as she prayed from it and pressed it to her heart. Nothing was closer to her in the hours of mortal fear than her book of hours. Through her confessor, who came from Ravenna, it eventually came to Italy, where it is stored today in the Biblioteca Classense di Ravenna. Both artifacts, the book of hours in the format of 10 x 7.1 cm and the warrant of execution, are sumptuously stored in a wooden case. The manuscript is protected by a wonderful binding of Bordeaux-red velvet, which is embellished with a jade stone and pearls on the edges of the front side.
The Private Prayer Book of the Scottish Queen
A true world of wonder spreads out before the eye of the beholder on 385 pages. 41 full-page miniatures adorn the private prayer book of Mary Stuart that was probably made in the early 16th century in Flanders, either in Bruges or Ghent. An unknown Flemish master adorned the text with numerous precious initials and artful miniatures. The spiritual text is preceded by a calendar depicting the months on seven pages along with the corresponding zodiac signs. Gorgeous wide frames that are exceedingly colorful and designed with elements of floral tendrils surround the text. In turn, the frames of the calendar pages show rustic genre scenes, e.g. the thresher at work between the streets of a Flemish city.
The Miniatures of the Book of Hours
The 19 miniature pages are extremely artfully designed, while a broad frame always surrounded the actual miniature in the middle of the picture. The frames are filled with naturalistic depictions of fruits, leaves, and flowers, but also with small animals and insects. The miniatures, designed like individual panel paintings, illustrated the texts of the various biblical scenes, e.g. the Annunciation or the Savior of the World. These are painted with great artistry, showing some wonderful landscape or architectural interior as a background. The luminous colorfulness of the paintings is impressive, which is further underscored through the application of gold. Stylistically the miniatures refer to an origin in Flanders, either from Ghent or Bruges. Great names from the art of illumination such as Jan van Eyck, Simon Bening, or Gerard David come to mind.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Stundenbuch und Hinrichtungsurkunde der Maria Stuart
Libro d'Ore di Maria Stuarda
Execution Warrant of Mary Queen of Scots
Stundenbuch der Maria Stuart
Hinrichtungsurkunde fΓΌr Maria Stuart
Ravenna Hours of Mary, Queen of Scots - Size / Format
- 1 document + 360 pages / 10.0 Γ 7.1 cm
- Origin
- Belgium
- Date
- Early 16th century (Book of Hours) February 1st, 1587 (Execution Warrant)
- Epochs
- Style
- Language
- Script
- Gothic Textura (Book of Hours)
- Illustrations
- 20 full-page miniatures, illuminated borders and numerous decorated initials
- Content
- Book of Hours + contemporary copy of the original warrant for the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots, made for Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent and one of the principal commissioners for her trial and execution
- Artist / School
- Book of Hours: Unknown Flemish Master
Execution Warrant: Robert Beale, Clerk of Privy Coucil (1541β1601) (annotations and underlinings) - Previous Owners
- Book of Hours: Maria Stuart, Queen of Scotland (1542β67)
Execution Warrant: Henry Grey, 6th Earl of Kent (1541β1616); John Selden (1584β1654); Sir Matthew Hale (1609β1676); James Fairhurst (d. 1999); John Burton
Mary Stuart's Book of Hours and Execution Warrant
June: Harvesting Hay
Three farmers harvest hay in a typical labor of the month scene for June. The man on the left cuts the hay with a scythe, going back and forth in rows, which the man in the middle collects with a pitchfork to put into a pile. This pile is then raked by the woman on the right before it is rolled into bales. Hay was an important resource in a world dependent upon the labor of horses, donkey, mules, and oxen. Military campaigns were especially dependent on the availability of grass and hay.
Mary Stuart's Book of Hours and Execution Warrant
Salvator Mundi
Salvator Mundi or βSavior of the Worldβ is a common subject of Christian iconography depicting Christ with his right hand raised in a gesture of benediction while holding a globus cruciger or βcross-bearing orbβ in the left. The latter object symbolizes Christβs dominion over the Earth. This depiction is presented in a lovely golden frame with flowers and butterflies.
Christ is depicted looking at the beholder with a penetrating gaze and an enigmatic expression on his face. He is dressed in a purple tunic with a red cloak secured around his shoulders by a golden, jewel-adorned clasp. Instead of a halo, the Flemish master responsible for the work used fine pen strokes of gold ink to create the image of a cross around Christβs head.
#1 Libro d'Ore di Maria Stuarda
Language: Italian
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