Item talk:Q42103

MIMSS: Two fragments, illuminated, 1st quarter of s.XVI (post-1502), of the Spanish translation by Ambrosio Montesino of the “Vita Christi” of Ludolph of Saxony.

The miniatures depict (1) the Cleansing of the Temple and (2) Zaccheus receiving Jesus, this one reproduced in the sale catalogue.

Another fragment from the same MS is reported here (at auction in France on 25 January 2014, Lot 88 of the sale by Guillaumot-Richard, Villefranche sur Saone).

Estimate: £ 3000-5000

MIMSS catalogue number: LS2014070800400014.

Sotheby’s Catalogue: vendido en £ 6.875

Sotheby’s Auction results:

THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE AND ZACCHAEUS RECEIVES JESUS, TWO MINIATURES FROM LUDOLPH OF SAXONY’S VITA CHRISTI, IN THE SPANISH TRANSLATION OF AMBROSIO MONTESINO, ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT ON VELLUM [SPAIN, FIRST QUARTER OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY (AFTER 1502)]

two cuttings: (a) Cleansing of the Temple, 70mm. by 85mm., with Christ entering the temple followed by the apostles, the ceiling inscribed with “De electione vendentium et ementium de templo”, and Christ holding a banderole and addressing a group of money changers gathered around a table and surrounded by coins, doves and sheep; (b) Zacchaeus receives Jesus, 65mm. by 85mm., Zacchaeus (a tax-collector at Jericho, described as a short man) seated in front of the table holding a scroll “Ecce dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus” while Jesus sits in the centre, surrounded by the Apostles, holding a banderole with the reply “Hodie salus facta est …” , reverses with upper and lower portions of column-wide text, written in two sizes of a late gothic Spanish bookhand, ruling in gold, rubric in red, 4-line initial in gold on a red ground, remains of a floral border, one miniature with small pigment losses, else good condition