Medieval religious books to be auctioned
Christie's has announced that it will be selling a private collection with 48 lots of medieval and renaissance manuscripts including prayer books on July 7th in London.These lots will be sold as part of a sale entitled The Arcana Collection: Exceptional Illuminated Manuscripts and Incunabula Part I and have been collected over three decades.
The auction is estimated to make between £11 million and £16 million in total and the objects will be on public display from July 3rd to 7th.
One of the highlights is a Book of Hours, a religious work containing psalms that was illuminated for King Francois I of France, who ruled in the 16th century, and is expected to fetch between £300,000 and £500,000.
Margaret Ford, head of books and manuscripts at Christie's, London, said: "This is a truly exceptional collection which presents illuminated manuscripts and incunabula in all their glory. They are masterpieces of medieval and renaissance art, many commissioned by important patrons. Books of Hours are among the most personal artworks."
Another highlight is the Hours and Psalter of Elizabeth De Bohun, the countess of Northampton, who lived in the 14th century and was the great-grandmother of King Henry V of England.
This lot is expected to reach between £2 million and £3 million.
Posted by Ophelia Weston
