Hours of Anna Colonna

Hours of Anna Colonna – Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – MS W.322 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA)

Puglia (Italy) — Mid-15th century

  1. Anna Colonna was the wife of Giovanni Antonio Orsini del Balzo (1401–1463), Prince of Taranto and Duke of Bari

  2. She is immortalized in the manuscript by a miniature, her family coat of arms and her mention in prayers

  3. Six full-page miniatures of saints and 19 historiated initials accompany the texts

Hours of Anna Colonna

  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Hours of Anna Colonna

The magnificent Hours of Anna Colonna is a splendid gem of Italian Early Renaissance book illumination. Its namesake and patroness was the wife of Giovanni Antonio Orsini del Balzo (1401–1463), Prince of Taranto and Duke of Bari. The wealthy noblewoman has herself immortalized in the manuscript not only in a miniature and through her family coat of arms - a crowned column on a red background - but is also named in several prayers, which underlines the personal character of the small-format codex, that the owner could take with her almost anywhere. The numerous texts for private contemplation are furthermore accompanied by six stunning full-page miniatures of saints and 19 historiated initials with mainly New Testament scenes. They are all provided with gleaming golden backgrounds which, together with the gold-decorated, sprawling foliate borders and smaller golden pen-flourish initials, lend the manuscript great material and artistic value.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
Stundenbuch der Anna Colonna
Le preghiere di Anna Colonna a San Francesco
Size / Format
462 pages / 10.5 × 7.4 cm
Origin
Italy
Date
Mid-15th century
Language
Script
Gothic Rotunda
Illustrations
6 full-page miniatures, 19 historiated initials with associated borders, numerous secondary initials
Content
Calendar, Hours of the Virgin, Hours of the Cross, Hours of the Holy Spirit, Office of Saint Catherine, Penitential Psalms and litany, Office of the Dead, prayers, Gospel sequences, prayers and suffrages, Seven Last Words of Christ
Patron
Anna Colonna (1601–1658)
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Peter Marié, George H. Richmond, Henry Walters

Available facsimile editions:
Hours of Anna Colonna – Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – MS W.322 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA)
Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – Rome, 2023
Limited Edition: 999 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Il manoscritto W.322. Le preghiere di Anna Colonna a San Francesco

Hours of Anna Colonna – Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – MS W.322 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA)
Hours of Anna Colonna – Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – MS W.322 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA) Copyright Photos: Ziereis Facsimiles

Limited Edition: 999 copies
Binding: Binding of blind-embossed leather with two brass clasps. Facsimile and commentary volume come together in a protective case.
Commentary: 1 volume by Carmela Massaro
Language: Italian
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