Book of Hours

The Painter of Additional 15677

Artists

Most of the large miniatures and historiated initials were illuminated by an artist named the Painter of Additional 15677 after another Book of Hours (London, BL, Add. MS 15677). He was a competent and prolific professional. His figures, though stiff and puppet-like, with stereotypical faces, are well proportioned. His modelling is conventional, but he created pleasing sequences of shadowed passages and shell gold highlights. Although his colour scheme and method of painting are no match for the luminous palettes and sophisticated techniques of the other three artists, he reused creatively a wide range of designs circulating among them and other contemporaries. He painted the Calendar’s historiated borders with admirable topicality and the architectural borders throughout the volume with convincing perspective.

This page was illuminated by the Painter of Additional 15677. Holding a book and a T-shaped staff, St Anthony is shown wearing the hooded tunic made of sack-cloth that became the habit of the Anthonite order. The pig at his feet refers to a special right enjoyed by the Anthonite monks – the pigs they bred were allowed to roam free. The architectural border incorporates the scallop shell associated with St James the Great, the Franciscan knotted belts (cordelière) and cherubs (putti) suspending a wreath.