St. Lawrence, an illuminated miniature on vellum from a Book of Hours . Amiens, c.

WITH GRIDIRON IN HAND

Illuminated miniature showing St. Lawrence holding the gridiron with which he was roasted, thick two-side border of red and blue flowers on a burnished gold ground; a green parrot perches on a thick two-sided border composed of red and blue flowers on a burnished gold ground. Full outer border of coloured flowers and gold leaves, and in lower outer corner an illustration which shows a naked figure on a grid iron, while another figure in a green tunic fans the flames with bellows.

Size of leaf: 196 x 140mm. Size of miniature: 95 x 65mm. 

An excellent miniature depicting St Lawrence holding the gridiron upon which he was roasted by order of the prefect of Rome, in the third century; the illustration in the lower corner, complete with a figure operating bellows to stoke the fire, presages the saint's fate. 

The Book of Hours in which this miniature appeared constituted an important stage in the development of book production in Amiens, and is related stylistically to the most important artist in Amiens at this time, the Master of Raoul d'Ailly. The Hours of Raoul d'Ailly also has marginal vignettes, similar to the one found here which is related to an Amiens Hours of c. 1410 (see: Rouen, Bibliothèque municipale, Ms. p. 12).

Some wear to the miniature at lower outer corner, and border.

1. From a Book of Hours for the use of Rome, sold Sotheby's, London, 14 July 1981, lot 118. 2. Christies, 2002; Lot 10, Valuable Illuminated Manuscripts, Printed Books Sale; along with two other miniatures of St John the Evangelist and St Quentin.. 

Stock Code: 246306