"The Mona Lisa of Manuscripts" – Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry Reissued as a Facsimile Edition
A Masterpiece of Manuscript Illumination
Les Très Riches Heures is widely regarded as the most celebrated illuminated manuscript of the 15th century. With its 121 resplendent miniatures—including the legendary calendar pages—it offers a captivating panorama of courtly and rural life around the year 1400. The work is distinguished by its artistic sophistication: atmospheric landscapes, carefully constructed perspectives, luminous colours and the dazzling use of gold make it one of the most accomplished examples of medieval book illumination.
Why the “Mona Lisa” of Manuscripts?
Much like Leonardo’s Mona Lisa, Les Très Riches Heures is an emblem of supreme artistic mastery and enigmatic allure. Its unique synthesis of a liturgical Book of Hours and a princely portrait, of spirituality and political self-representation, renders it unparalleled. No other manuscript so elegantly weaves together private devotion, dynastic identity and artistic innovation. The miniatures—at times delicate, at times majestic—remain visionary to this day.
The Duke Behind the Masterpiece
Jean, Duke of Berry (1340–1416), was among the most influential patrons of the arts in his time. As the son of King John II of France, he belonged to the uppermost echelons of the realm. Politically powerful but frequently embroiled in conflict, the Duke sought cultural immortality through the medium of book art. Around 1410, he commissioned the Limburg brothers—pre-eminent artists from the Duchy of Guelders—to create what would become his most precious Book of Hours. Though both the Duke and the artists passed away in 1416, the manuscript was completed decades later by the painter Jean Colombe.
A Facsimile Edition of the Highest Calibre
This forthcoming facsimile edition does full justice to the exceptional nature of the original. It is based on a completely new digitisation of manuscript Ms. 65, held at the Musée Condé in Chantilly, near Paris. Employing state-of-the-art scanning technology, every miniature, text passage, gold embellishment and parchment texture has been captured in breathtaking detail.
Subsequent printing involves meticulous chromatic and material reproduction: through high-resolution pigment printing, white overprinting, selective varnishing and innovative gold-simulation techniques, a strikingly authentic impression is achieved. Each leaf is individually reviewed and finished by hand in a labour-intensive process. The leather-bound cover, adorned with gold embossing, is faithfully recreated, and the completed work is housed in an elegant presentation case—a bibliophile treasure of the highest order.
On View in Chantilly
The original manuscript has been held by the Musée Condé in the Château de Chantilly since the 19th century. From 7 June to 5 October 2025, a major exhibition will be dedicated to this artistic treasure: Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry will be on display under the title The Très Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry in the renowned Salle du Jeu de Paume.
Visitors will have the rare opportunity to view selected original folios—a cultural highlight for all lovers of manuscript art. As one of the most valuable items in the collection, the manuscript is only shown under exceptional conditions.
A Project of European Stature
This facsimile edition is not only an art historical milestone but also a pan-European endeavour: publishers from Germany, Italy and Spain are collaborating closely to produce a facsimile that comes closer to the original than ever before. With a strictly limited edition of just 800 copies worldwide, the work is destined to become a coveted collector’s item.
Experience the “Mona Lisa of Manuscripts” – in a facsimile edition that rivals the original in every detail.
Now available from the Universal Art Group.
👉🏻 universalartgroup.com/en/collections-1/les-tres-riches-heures-du-duc-de-berry
👉🏻 chateaudechantilly.fr/en/evenement/les-tres-riches-heures-du-duc-de-berry/
👉🏻 universalartgroup.com/en/faksimile/the-production-of-a-facsimile
