Malet-Lannoy Hours

This Book of Hours was made ca. 1420-1440 for use of Rome in northeastern France or Paris, as suggested by the contents in the calendar and the inclusion of a suffrage to St. Avia. Although the identity of the initial patron is unknown, his heraldry was added thirty-five times throughout the book. The manuscript was owned within the first decades of its creation by Thomas Malet of Berlettes and Jeanne of Lannoy, whose heraldry was added early into the manuscript as well. This was likely in the 1430s, coinciding with their marriage, and the addition of a miniature depicting the Marriage of the Virgin at this time supports this. This manuscript contains twenty-seven additional miniatures, some of which are of particular iconographical note, such as St. Luke painting the Virgin (fol. 17r). The inclusion of this depiction, as well as other compositional and style choices, link this book to the Master of Morgan 453.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Thomas Malet of Berlettes and wife Jeanne of Lannoy, near Lille, c. 1435-1440. Acquired by Alfred H. Huth, London, before 1910. Sotheby's Sale, London, 12 June 1913, lot 3803; purchased by Leon Gruel, Paris, 13 June 1913; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, MD, 1913; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.