614 .Dibdins Bib Ho graphical To 



character by which it was frequently 

 characterised by the artists of (liis 

 pei'iod. 



TJi!> opposite illumination of (he Pom- 

 mesde Paradis is beyond all praise. Such 

 fruit is worthy of the place by wliich 

 they are called. The Presoitation is 

 the next eusuins:; large illumiuutlon ; 

 but, as usual, when tlie artist afd-mpts 

 to group, or to give historical expres- 

 sion, he is sure to fiiil. Tlie preserva- 

 tion of the painting is perfect. Next 

 comes the Flight info Egypt ; but it is 

 an indifferent performance. On the 

 ninth ensuing leaf, from this last illu- 

 miuafiou, there is one of t!ie larger 

 fruit and flower pieces of cherries, &c. 

 and I suspect tliat, originally, an his- 

 torical subject f.iced it. We have next 

 a fine large illumination of David 

 choosing (me of the Ei:ilsi he is hnecl- 

 ing, while the angel liolils three darts 

 above his head. It has great merit; 

 the countenance of David is exjn-cssive, 

 but rather too chubby ; his flowered 

 robe of gold, I'.pon a blue ground, is 

 admirable. A glorious fruit illumina- 

 tion of " wood-nnts"' quickly follows ; 

 at the bottom of whicli, in the right 

 corner, are two nionkies quarrelling, 

 done to the very life. Tlu^ marginal 

 flowers whicli succeed are, if possible, 

 more l>eautiful than those before: the 

 ears of green wlieat, oats, &c — and yet 

 more, tlie dandelion — have absolutely 

 nothing to surjiass them, either upon 

 the canvas of Van lluysum or De 

 Heem ! 



The Raising nf Lnzarus is the next 

 large illumination; having, in parts, 

 very considerable efiVct. The figure 

 and expression of Christ are excellent, 

 but perhaps it is delieient in majesty 

 of expression. A tear is flowing down 

 each cheek — touched in a peculiarly 

 transparent manner. " Jesus wept,"' 

 but I believe not at the grave of his 

 departed friend. The figure of Lazarus 

 has considerable merit. An illumina- 

 tion of plums is on the opiwsite page, 

 of a particularly leadxjn tint. Job and 

 his friends form the subject of the suc- 

 ceeding illumination. Each of the 

 three accompanying figures seem to be 

 touched with heart-felt sorrow; and 

 there is, consequently, no taunting. 

 The opposite fruit-piece, called " Guer- 

 nadee," or Pomegranate, is, however, 

 much preferable to his historical group. 

 A representation of the Trinity next 

 arrests our attention. On the head of 

 -the Almighty is a triple tiara : around 

 that of our Saviour isapparcntly acrown 



ur in France and Geniiany. 



• ' ■ .(,iimu»i-j»» 



of thorns. The dove is between fliera. 

 The back ground is gold. Tile robes 

 of the figures just described exhiiiited 

 lieautiful touches of gold, Inittlie wiKdo 

 wants elTect, The Imnches of small 

 black grapes, opposite, are abaolntely 

 tantalising to the sight — from the truth 

 and perf(?c(ion of their finish. It is 

 followed by a fruit-sul>j<Tt of equal 

 beauty. Joseph, Mary, and the Infant 

 Christ na-Kt ensue; but, (hough these, 

 figures aie in a good state of ])reserva« 

 tion, theeff<'ct is poor, A marvellously 

 fine illumination of a Group of Angrls 

 follows. In the centre of this greup 

 stands one, proba]);y St, Michael, com- 

 pletely clad in sro'den armour, of beau- 

 tiful workmanslijp, with a spear in his 

 right hand, and his left hand resting 

 upon a shield. The countenance is 

 most tenderly touched ; hut, for a per* 

 son so armed, the expressiori seonis too 

 feminine. Proi)abIy this is (he finest 

 illuminaticm of large figures in the 

 volume; v.ithlhc exception of that iti 

 which the j)ortrait of Anne of Brittany 

 is introduced. Some deliciously exe- 

 cuted green gnoscberries - fate tliis 

 " Ornison dcs Antjes.'''^ li' iiT ; )i,!! 

 There is yet a nuieh finer pifcc <^f Art 

 in the head of (Ik? figure of the " Bon 

 Ange,"' which follows; by no moans 

 unworthy even of the peneii of Raphafil. 

 The wings are crimson ; the vestment 

 is green, a sword is in the right hand, 

 and a sort of casket, in blue, hangs to 

 the left, suspended from the right shoul- 

 der, Gabriel is the next in succession. 

 The vestment of the saint is lilac, ten- 

 derly touched ; but the face is com- 

 paratively mean. Somedelicious " me- 

 lons''' cause the eye quickly to wander 

 towards the opposite page. The Tu-elve 

 Apostles, grouped, sticcecd ; St. Peter 

 and St. Paul are in front; but these 

 figures are not equal to tlieir precursors. 

 The Martyrs, kneeling, form the en- 

 suing subject of art ; they are in much 

 better taste than the preceding. The 

 brown and gold ornament, on the side 

 of a book, is cleverly understood, A", S. 

 Cosme and Daminn are the next graphic 

 subject, the former with an urinal, the 

 latter with a pix, in his hand, in good 

 preservation; the heads are well co- 

 loured, especially that of St. Daminn. 

 St. Sebastian succeeds, a very meagre 

 affair. The Ten Thousand Martyrs 

 aftenvards arrest our shuddering atten- 

 tion. Some of them are spike<l, others 

 are upon crosses, with the blood stream- 

 ing on all sides. The colouring is hor- 

 ribly correct. A most extraordinary 

 performance. 



