St John on Patmos from the Coëtivy Hours

Dunois Master, attributed to

Folio with three-quarter page miniature from a book of Hours attributed to the Dunois Master, written in Latin and French in a bastarda script, made in Paris and dated 1443–1445. It was commissioned by Prigent de Coëtivy (1399?–1450) on the occasion of his marriage to Marie de Rais (1429–1457). Removed from the bound volume between 1933 and 1960. Following the calendar, the manuscript opens with the Gospel lessons, excerpts from the life of Christ presented chronologically and all associated with major feasts: John (Christmas), Luke (Annunciation), Matthew (Epiphany), and Mark (Ascension). The section opens with John (1.1-14), introduced with the illuminated initial 'I' (In principio erat verbum et verbum erat apud deum et deus erat verbum) painted with white, red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts St John the Evangelist writing in a codex on the island of Patmos (associated with Revelation) attended by his symbol (eagle) and hindered by a demon who has knocked over his ink pot. Elements of the riverscape were inspired by the background of Jan van Eyck's (c.1390–1441) Rolin Madonna, copied almost exactly in the 'Personification of Idleness' miniature in the Dunois Hours (British Library, Yates Thompson MS 3), also attributed to the Dunois Master. Marginal details include two fighting lions and a wild man attacking a bear with a club. On the verso, a bird (possibly a goldfinch) was added to the upper margin.