Lot 7: Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c.1390-1445) - St Paul, historiated initial 'S' on a leaf from a Gradual on vellum, Venice, c.1426-30

Cristoforo Cortese (fl. c.1390-1445)
St Paul, historiated initial 'S' on a leaf from a Gradual on vellum, Venice, c.1426-30

A majestic leaf by one of the greatest Venetian illuminators of the fifteenth century: Cristoforo Cortese.

510 x 365mm. The initial 'S' with St Paul holding a sword and blue book opening the introit 'Scio cui credidi' for the Mass for the Memorial of St Paul (June 29). Seven lines of text and music on 4-line staves in red, rubrics in red and initials in blue and red, recto with a former folio number '31' in brown ink, partially-erased inscription beginning 'XIV [...]' at the lower edge; the verso with foliation in Roman numerals in red 'XXXI'. Mounted and framed.

Sister Leaves:
Ten related leaves from the same series of deluxe Choir Books are identified, all with matching stave height (rastrum 25 mm.). Two oblong vertical cuttings are found at the Free Library of Philadelphia (Lewis E M 25:21 and 45:13). Many of the historiated initials in this group show figures with red-rimmed haloes, like Saint John the Evangelist in an initial ‘E’ on a full leaf now at the Victoria and Albert Museum (inv. D.637B-1894, numbered in ink '126' in the top corner).

1. A Prophet, initial ‘D’ (Les Enluminures, MIN 18-30).
2. St John the Evangelist, initial ‘C’ (London, Victoria and Albert Museum, D.637B-1894).
3. Saint, initial ‘G’, and Martyr Saint, initial ‘S’ (Free Library of Philadelphia, Lewis E M 25:21 and Lewis E M 45:13).
4. Bearded Apostle, initial ‘T’, and Standing Saint, initial ‘E’ (London, Sotheby’s, 5 December 2006, lots 68-69; ex-F.G. Zeileis Collection; see G. Zeileis, 'Più ridon le carte', no 11).
5. Entry into Jerusalem, initial ‘D’ (Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum, Marlay Cutting It. 20).
6. Prophet, initial ‘C’ (Bologna, Museo Civico Medievale).
7. Prophet (Isaiah?), initial ‘V’ (London, Sotheby’s, 5 December 2012, lot 8; ex-Robert Lehman Collection, published in Palladino 2003, no 39, pp.75-76).
8. Bearded Bishop with a Book(?), initial ‘S’ (London, Sotheby’s, 22 June 2004, lot 23).

Illumination:
The miniature is securely attributed to Cristoforo Cortese, the most accomplished Venetian illuminator of the early 15th century. It comes from a dismembered Gradual that probably dates soon after Cortese’s return to Venice after a brief residency in Bologna. The delicate modelling of facial types with long beards painted in small brushstrokes are found elsewhere Cortese’s oeuvre, as in a Bust Portrait of a Bearded Man in a Compendium moralium notabilium manuscript at the Getty Museum (J. Paul Getty Museum, MS Ludwig XIV 8, f. 34v).