PARIS WORKSHOPS (DOMINICAN PAINTER active c. 1230–1250; JOHANNES GRUSCH ATELIER, active c. 1235–1270)
Three leaves from a Bible, with two historiated initials, Saints Paul and Saint Mark, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, Paris, c. 1240–1260]

Showcases the refined visual and textual innovations of mid-thirteenth-century ateliers central to the production of deluxe Gothic Bibles for scholastic and monastic use.

(i)two leaves from the Johannes Grusch Atelier
151 × 103. Two leaves, ruled in plummet, written in two columns of fifty lines (justification: 117 × 78 mm) in a precise Gothic textura, with red and blue pen-flourished initials throughout, marginal glosses in contemporary hand, decoration includes marginal extensions of red and blue penwork terminating in fine tendrils and grotesques, decorative initials in contrasting tones of red, blue, and gold, and running headers in blue and red capitals. TWO HISTORIATED INITIALS with a portrait of Saint Paul holding a sword, enclosed in a columnar band of gold and blue acanthus with fine foliate terminals and the second with a portrait Saint Mark, and his lion symbol, both with letter forms trailing into lower margins and terminating in floral sprays with burnished gold. Minor stains and marginal repairs, but overall excellent condition with crisp vellum and strong ink.

The Johannes Grusch Atelier (active Paris, c. 1235–1270) was one of the leading Parisian workshops specializing in deluxe university-format Bibles, known for their elegant design, disciplined Gothic script, and vivid historiated initials with elongated vertical descenders. The historiated initials of Mark (initial ‘I’) and Paul (initial ‘P’) on these leaves exemplify the workshop’s refined figural style, ornamental play of text and image. These passages include the Opening of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 1–3:12) and Pauline second epistle to the Thessalonians with exegetical glosses, reflecting the scholastic use of such manuscripts.

(ii)one leaf by the Dominican Painter
302 × 210 mm. Single leaf from a substantially larger Bible, ruled in plummet for two columns of forty-one lines (justification: 195 × 128 mm), catchword present in lower margin of verso, additional double bounding lines and pricking marks faintly visible at the outer margin, written in Gothic textura in dark brown ink, red and blue initials (1–2 lines high) introducing chapter divisions and verse breaks, many with flourishing that extends into the margin in penwork of the contrasting color, marginal flourishes also incorporate vertical vines, finials, beaded scrollwork, chapter numbers in alternating red and blue Lombard capitals, headers in red and blue capitals. Parchment supple and of excellent quality, exhibiting only minor yellowing and darkening at the upper margin from earlier binding exposure.

The so-called Dominican Painter (active c. 1230–1250) is recognized for his lively linework, expressive faces, and inventive marginalia, and played a key role in shaping the visual language of Dominican-produced Parisian Bibles. This leaf contains an excerpt from Proverbs 10–12.

Provenance:
(1) Produced in Paris, likely in the vicinity of the Dominican studium on the Rue Saint-Jacques, mid-13th century.

(2) Bruce Ferrini, Akron, Ohio, sold individually as MS301, MS303, and MS304.

(3) Private Collection, California, USA.

Parent manuscript and sister leaves:
A parent manuscript has not been identified for these leaves.

LITERATURE:
Unpublished; for the ateliers of the Dominican Painter and Johannes Grusch see: Robert Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris During the Reign of Saint Louis: A Study of Styles, Berkeley, 1977; Robert Branner, “The Johannes Grusch Atelier and the Continental Origins of the William of Devon Painter,” The Art Bulletin 54 (1972), pp. 24–30; Robert Branner, “The Grusch Atelier and Its Position in Parisian Book Illumination,” in Art the Ape of Nature: Studies in Honor of H. W. Janson, ed. Moshe Barasch and Lucy Freeman Sandler, New York, 1981, pp. 47–58; Michael A. Michael, “Urban Production of Manuscript Books and the Role of the University Towns,” in The Cambridge History of the Book in Britain, vol. 2, Cambridge, 2008, pp. 168–194; Laura Light, “The Thirteenth Century and the Paris Bible,” in The New Cambridge History of the Bible, vol. 2, Cambridge, 2012, pp. 380–391; Laura Light, “What Was a Bible For? Liturgical Texts in Thirteenth-Century Franciscan and Dominican Bibles,” Lusitania Sacra 34 (2016), pp. 165–182.

We thank Senior Consultant Sandra Hindman and Peter Bovenmyer for their assistance in preparing this sale.

Christopher Brink

Associate Vice President, Head of Sale, Senior Specialist, Books & Manuscripts

[email protected]312.334.4217

Darren Winston

SVP, Head of Department, Books and Manuscripts, Philadelphia

[email protected]267.414.1247

Darren Winston, Senior Vice President at Freeman’s, has served as Head of Department for Books & Manuscripts, Philadelphia, since 2018. He has been a trustee of the Rosenbach Museum and Library since 2022, is a member of The Manuscript Society, The Bibliographical Society of America, and Philadelphia’s Philobiblon Club.

Raised in northern New Jersey, Darren moved to New York City in 1988 and began his career there as a bookseller in 1995. He spent the next 18 years selling to private clients and at East Coast book fairs. In 2003 he moved with his young family to Sharon, Connecticut where, in 2009, he opened his own bookshop. Darren Winston, Bookseller offered rare and vintage books, prints, fine art, and more, and hosted over 50 book signings and art shows. He was a trustee and, later, Board President, of the Sharon Historical Society, and for six years a trustee of Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, Connecticut.

Darren has hosted the radio program "Darren Winston's Book Report" for NPR-affiliate WHDD since 2009, appeared in the 2014 book-themed documentary The Paper Trail, and in 2024 he joined Antiques Roadshow as a books and manuscripts appraiser. From 1999 to 2005, Darren was the buyer and consultant to the Fine and Rare Books Department at Asprey, the British luxury goods company, at its New York headquarters. While there he spearheaded various in-store events including readings by Salman Rushdie and Dominick Dunne.

In 1993, Darren was hired as a Creative Consultant to Columbia Records, where he assisted in the repackaging of their 12-record Aerosmith back catalogue. He later sold his extensive collection of Aerosmith memorabilia, which he began amassing at the age of 14, directly to the band.

Darren now lives on the Main Line, outside Philadelphia, with his wife, two children, and dog. The family travels frequently to his wife's native England and Scotland. When not bookselling, he plays guitar in Pumped, an Aerosmith tribute band. Darren also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Sandra Hindman

Senior Consultant, Medieval and Renaissance Manuscript Illumination

[email protected]312 280 1212

Sandra Hindman, Senior Consultant, is a leading expert in Medieval and Renaissance manuscript illumination. Professor Emerita of Art History at Northwestern University, Professor Hindman is author, coauthor or editor of more than twelve books, as well as numerous articles on the history and reception of illuminated manuscripts and on medieval rings. She is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, the National Antique and Art Dealers Association of America, the Syndicat National de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne, and the Syndicat National des Antiquaires,The Grolier Club and the Caston Club. In 2023, the French Republic named Sandra Hindman a Chevaliere de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters). She is the owner and CEO of Les Enluminures Paris Chicago and New York founded in 1991.

Western Manuscripts and Miniatures

PARIS WORKSHOPS (DOMINICAN PAINTER active c. 1230–1250; JOHANNES GRUSCH ATELIER, active c. 1235–1270)
Three leaves from a Bible, with two historiated initials, Saints Paul and Saint Mark, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, Paris, c. 1240–1260]

Western Manuscripts and Miniatures

PARIS WORKSHOPS (DOMINICAN PAINTER active c. 1230–1250; JOHANNES GRUSCH ATELIER, active c. 1235–1270)Three leaves from a Bible, with two historiated initials, Saints Paul and Saint Mark, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, Paris, c. 1240–1260]

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PARIS WORKSHOPS (DOMINICAN PAINTER active c. 1230–1250; JOHANNES GRUSCH ATELIER, active c. 1235–1270)
Three leaves from a Bible, with two historiated initials, Saints Paul and Saint Mark, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum [France, Paris, c. 1240–1260]