The Lamentation 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. A prayer to the Virgin Mary concludes on the recto, illuminated in the margin with two women, one naked (perhaps Eve), the other clothed, each holding a floral spray. The golden mirror is inscribed with one of Prigent’s mottos: ‘hellas bella mercy’ (a plea for the Virgin’s aid). On the verso, the ‘Obsecro te’ (I beseech of thee) prayer opens with the illuminated initial 'O’ (Obsecro te domina sancta maria mater dei pietate plenissima) painted with red, blue and gold ivy-leaf ornament. Together with ‘O intemerata’ (O unspotted), this prayer was one of the most popular additions to books of hours. It is one of a series of twenty-six prayers to the Virgin Mary in this section of the manuscript. The great many devotions and miniatures dedicated to her is rather unusual. This prayer outlines the Virgin’s virtues, joys, sorrows, and includes a plea for her assistance. The miniature is painted in demi-grisaille with pigments and gold and depicts the Lamentation. Christ has already been taken down from the cross and has been placed on his burial shroud. He is surrounded by John the Evangelist, Mary his mother (kissing his hand), Mary Magdalene (kissing his feet) and three other female disciples. Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are just visible on the right while the two thieves are seen in the background. Prigent’s motto in the lower margin is replaced by the overpainted single charge of Alain de Coëtivy, a later owner of the manuscript.