HEURES NOUVELLES DEDIEES A MADAME LA DAUPHINE.
by Senault, Louis.
A calligraphic book of hours "dedicated" to Marie Anne Christine Victoire de Bauirre [Bavaria] (d.1690), the daughter-in-law of Louis XIV, written and engraved by Louis Senault (fl. 1660's-1680's) between 1680 (date of the lady's marriage to the Dauphin) and 1690. Senault produced different versions of books of hours dedicated to various members of French royalty. This copy does not correspond exactly to any reference which we have found. It has some similarity to Bonacini no. 1689 and OCLC 26677688, both of which are perhaps for an earlier version. The missing page number (p. 47 omitted), however, is noted only for a much later work (1740) using Senault's plates but bearing a different title. The book is printed from engraved plates, with each page written in a clear cursive (with headers and highlights sometimes in other styles) inside a simple border of double rules. The decorative scheme is more elaborate, generally combining floral elements and calligraphy, with some geometric elements or landscape vignettes. The title page and the eight subtitle pages have more ornate floral borders or subdivisions within the double rules, generally surrounding a calligraphic center panel. The groups of prayers usually begin with a floral or landscape headpiece, followed by some calligraphic flourishing, and an illuminated first initial consisting of a Roman capital over a square background of floral or geometric design, or a landscape vignette. Similarly constructed but smaller initials also appear at the beginnings of individual prayers: no two initials are the same. Sections frequently conclude with flourishes, and strings of calligraphic fleurons, each unique, appear throughout the text. Some headpieces and some backgrounds of initials incorporate landscape engravings which seem rather faint, as if made from worn plates. Other landscapes are clearly printed, as is all of the other matter. Joints repaired at head and foot, paper repair to head of title-page not affecting text. Worn at the joints.
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