"Fine Early Patent of Nobility with Signed Renaissance Illuminations, Reminiscent of Books of Hours"

Judgments and executory letter of nobility given to Mr. Juan de Morales, neighbor of Belmonte, by Don Phelippe II, king of Castile, León, Aragón.

Text begins: Don Phelippe rey de Castilla, de León, de Aragón,… y haciendo justicia devemos de declarar y declaramos El dicho licenciado Juan de Morales SER tal hombre hijodalgo En propiedad de padre y abuelo E como a tal mandamos que le sean guardadas todas las honras, franquezas, y libertades y esenciones y preheminencias que se suelen E acostumbran guardar A los otros hombres hijodalgos destos Reynos y señoríos de su majestad E que devemos de condenar y condenamos Al dicho concejo Justicia E Regimiento de la dicha Villa de Belmonte y a todos los concejos de todas las ciudades, villas y lugares destos Reynos E señoríos de su majestad Donde el dicho licenciado Juan de Morales biviere y morare y tuviese bienes y hacienda y eredades A que a gozar y a de Aquí adelante No le echen, Repartan pedidos, Ni monedas, ni servicios, ni sisas, Ni otros pechos, ni tributos,… Mandamos dar y damos A la parte del dicho licenciado Juan de Morales esta nuestra carta executoria escrita en pergamino … dada en Granada A veintinueve dias del mes de Julio de mil y quinientos y ochenta y siete años". Granada, July 29, 1587.

Folio (31,5x21,5 cm.); 67 vellum pages; contemporary velvet binding.

A PATENT OF NOBILITY WITH EXTRAORDINARY SIGNED ILLUMINATIONS. The first two leaves are beautifully illuminated with great ornamental richness in the classic way of the books of hours. First illuminated leaf bears the signature of the artist, which is absolutely unusual for this type of manuscript.

First folio, verso: full decoration page on fine gold background, : two columns with a profusion of flowers and mythological figures hold a vault that frames the central motif ( the graduate Juan de Morales with his relatives and an ecclesiastical dignity), all kneeling in prayerful attitude and under the invocation of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, an angel, a cherub and three figures that form a choir celestial, all of them on clouds graciously protecting the imploring humans. In the upper part of the vault are San Pedro, San Pablo and in the center, the Pantocrator. In the lower part guarding the cartouche, there are two singular female anthropomorphic figures with swan necks. On the left is the artist's signature: "Ximeno… 1587".

Second folio, recto: full page illumination on a fine gold background, in which carnations and roses share with the bird's hoopoe, partridge, goldfinches and insects the lateral supports. In the middle, upper part, an equestrian Santiago "Matamoros", decapitating enemies, and in the lower, the noble coat of arms of the noble knight in question. In the upper margin, an Agnus Dei, Saint John and in the center the Phoenix bird; at the bottom, the cartouche is marked by a bee-eater and a goldfinch. All figures, both human as well as botanical and zoological are drawn with great accuracy and beauty, revealing excellent knowledge and workmanship, typical of a professional miniaturist painter. Likewise, both general compositions show the style typical of the Renaissance in its moment of maximum splendor; the fact that the illumination is signed is undoubted proof of its artistic prestige. LL 61.