Gelderse Miniatuurschilders in de eerste helft van de XVde eeuw

Since it is clear that the duchy of Guelders (with the adjacent territories of Cleves, Gulik, Overijssel and Münster) in the first half of the XVth century kept a cultural ascendance over the more western regions—namely the county of Holland and the bishopric Utrecht properly,—it is a matter of course that the art of book-illumination in those eastern parts of the Low Countries had its share in the advantage. In the first part of this paper the well known breviary of the duchess Mary of Guelders, belonging to the Prussian 'Staatsbibliothek' (ms. germ, quarto n. 42, temporarily in the library of the University at Tübingen), is discussed once more. The book, finished as early as 1415, was adapted soon afterwards to the special desire of its owner. In connection with it the author deals with the even more luxurious breviary that was presumingly ordered by Mary's husband, the duke Reynald IV, and got up between 1418 and 1423, the year of his death. Of this important manuscript, conserved in the Pierpont Morgan-Library at New York (n. 87), a detailed description is given. It is pointed out, how the rich illumination has been commissioned to a couple of masters: the first one being the very artist that completed the illustration in the breviary of the duchess Mary. The second, indicated by the author by the 'jury-name' Pancratius, is responsible for the major and finer part of the decoration. The first master is not to be identified with the so called 'Master of Otto van Moerdrecht' (otherwise 'the Master of the Seraph'). This artist—as Lieftinck rightly has observed—does not show any individual style, but represents a rather determined manner of illustration, then current in the regions mentioned. Still it turns out possible to assign to his skilful hand a number of schematical but bold miniatures occurring in at least three other manuscripts.—Pancratius in his turn shows a much more personal handling. In the breviary of Reynald IV this leading artist was assisted by two experienced pupils. Several books from his workshop are to be discussed in the second part of this treaty. The 'Master Pancratius', who had the largest share in the illumination of the breviary ordered by the duke Reynald IV, has collaborated with four other Gueldrian artists at the bible in three volumes, made about 1420 for a prominent member of the Utrecht-family van Lochorst. This bible, a very fine specimen and unique in its way, is preserved in the Fitzwilliam Museum at Cambridge. On the