This incunabulum is a very unusual copy of the publication of Horae ad usum Romanum, in Latin and French, the printing of which was completed on 20 August 1496 in the Parisian workshop of Philippe Pigouchet, to a commission from the bookseller and publisher Simon Vostre.
As in the case of manuscript Books of Hours, this is a collection of offices and prayers for secular use.
Being an incunabulum Book of Hours, it reflects a unique selection, typical of a time of transition: in fact, it was in the second half of the 15th Century that the existence of devout compositions began to increase.
The presence of passages written in two languages responds to that situation. All the essential texts are present, several of which considered secondary, and it doesn’t lack a curious sampling of accessory texts, as this colorful group is classified by the best experts in this field.
The individual prints and the frames are finely colored, making this an illuminated incunabulum, without miniatures, which belonged to Ferrante d'Este (1477-1540), son of Ercole d'Este (1431-1505).
He took part in the plot of 1505, together with his brother Giulio (natural son of the Duke) against another brother, Alfonso I d'Este (1476-1534), the designed successor, Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio, who, as a result, was condemned to death, although he remained in prison for the last 34 years of his life.
We have 1 facsimile edition of the manuscript "Incunabular Book of Hours in Latin and French Illuminated for the Condotiere Ferrante d'Este": Libro de Horas incunable, en latín y francés, del Condotiero Ferrante d'Este facsimile edition, published by Millennium Liber, 2008
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