Book of "Hours of the Middle Ages", Gruel & Engelmann, Paris 1862

"Book of "Hours of the Middle Ages", Gruel & Engelmann, Paris 1862".
"Hours of the Middle Ages", book of hours inspired by medieval manuscripts, with beautiful ornaments and figures on every page, in full color with gilded highlights.

The book was designed using the brand-new chromolithography technique, whose rendering was unprecedented at the time. Published by Gruel & Engelmann, specialists in luxury bindings, our book is particularly interesting for the quality of both the pages and the binding.

The pages are entirely illuminated using this technique. They have 3 gilded edges, and are embellished with small bouquets of lily of the valley and blue flowers.

The front of the binding features a silver-gilded tetramorph framing a central medallion depicting the Last Supper, itself framed by 4 small enamels depicting the Virgin and Child, St. Sebastian, St. Veronica and St. Francis. A motto underlines the decoration: "Ask and you shall receive; Seek and you shall find".

The reverse also features the tetramorph framing a heart-shaped enamel depicting the martyrdom of St. Sebastian, adorned with 4 cabochons of green stones. The motto on the reverse is different from that on the front: "For all who ask receive, and all who seek find".

Finally, the spine of the book and the two hasps of the clasp are also embellished with painted enamel. Note an accident on the enamel cabochon of the upper hasp.

Paris, 1862.

Good condition, slight wear to the velvet of the binding.

16 cm X 14 cm X 3.5 cm.

A very interesting and extensive collection from this publishing house can be found at the Walter Art Museum in Baltimore, USA.

Ref: PBBXJXHGJN