Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry

THE QUEEN OF MANUSCRIPTS

The „Très riches Heures du Duc de Berry“ is one of the most famous and precious manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Its full-page miniatures, reminiscent of small panel paintings, make it truly unique. They impress with their perfect perspective, elegant figure movements and atmospheric landscapes. The combination of courtly scenes with a book of hours originally intended for liturgical use and private viewing was particularly innovative. Equally unusual was the consideration given to the personal wishes of the patron, the Duke of Berry, for example through the depiction of his castles or his New Year‘s celebrations. The images gain independence from the text without detracting from its splendour. The colouring, composition and concept make the work, with its total of 121 miniatures, the crowning glory of book illumination. Particularly impressive is the detailed insight into medieval life that the manuscript provides. Everyday scenes, typical clothing of the time, contemporary architecture: all this provides a unique view of 15th century France.

THE CREATION OF A MASTERPIECE

The Duke of Berry, one of the greatest patrons of the arts of his time, commissioned the work around 1410. After his death in 1416, the book remained unfinished. Through inheritance, it came into the possession of the House of Savoy. It was not completed until around 1485 by Jean Colombe. The book was then lost for a long time until it was rediscovered in Turin in 1856 by the Duke of Aumale. Today, the manuscript is housed in the Musée Condé in Chantilly near Paris.

THE „TRÈS RICHES HEURES“ – PROBABLY THE GREATEST MASTERPIECE OF BOOK ILLUMINATION EVER CREATED – AN INCREDIBLE WINDOW INTO LATE MEDIEVAL LIFE

A BOOK OF HOURS LIKE NO OTHER

The content follows the classic structure of a book of hours: a richly illustrated calendar, Marian office, Passion cycle, psalms, images of saints. Characteristic of the Très riches Heures is the alternation of large, full-page miniatures and smaller image fields, some of which are combined with columns of text. Particularly striking is the development from the early planned combinations of image and text to full-page images without text – an innovation that the artists probably undertook in agreement with the Duke. The calendar begins with the famous monthly images, with the illustrations for January, April, May and August by the Limbourg brothers depicting courtly scenes. 

The remaining months (February, March, June, July, September, October, November, December) show peasant work. Here, too, the Duke‘s castles appear, often with surprising topographical accuracy. Some calendar pages were probably added by an unknown master before Jean Colombe began his work. In addition, the work contains eight unusual individual images, such as depictions of ‘The Anatomical Man,’ ‘Hell’ and the ‘Plan of Rome.’ These were probably not part of the original concept, but are also likely to have been created by the Limbourg brothers. Today, the manuscript comprises 208 pages on high-quality parchment. In addition to the miniatures, it contains rich gold decorations, magnificent initials and fine foliage – a testament to the highest art of bookmaking. Despite the large number of artists involved, the work appears remarkably uniform – a synthesis of courtly style, Italian and Dutch influences, and Parisian book illumination. 

THE DUKE OF BERRY – CLIENT AND PATRON

Jean, Duke of Berry, born in 1340, was the third son of King John II of France. As the brother of Charles V and Philip the Bold, he was closely involved in the political events of his time. Despite his powerful position, his era was marked by crises, war and internal unrest: the Hundred Years‘ War, the Western Schism, power struggles between Orléans and Burgundy, the madness of Charles VI and the defeat at Agincourt in 1415 shaped his time. The duke was not without controversy; his townhouse in Paris was devastated in 1411, and his castle in Bicêtre was looted and burned down. In 1413, he was forced to flee from the Burgundians. He died in 1416 at the age of 75. Despite the political turmoil, he was an enthusiastic patron 

of the arts: he had castles and palaces built and furnished, and collected jewels, textiles, relics and, above all, manuscripts. In total, he owned at least 15 books of hours, including the Très riches Heures.

THE ARTISTS – THE GREATEST MASTERS OF THEIR TIME

The main artists behind the manuscript were the Limbourg brothers – Paul, Hermann and Jean. They came from the Duchy of Guelders. Their uncle, the painter Jean Malouel, brought them to the Burgundian court, where they initially worked on the Bible moralisée. After the death of Philip the Bold, they moved to the court of the Duke of Berry, who commissioned them first to create the Belles Heures and later the Très riches Heures. The brothers worked together, presumably under Paul‘s direction. Their style is characterised by fine observation of detail, elegant figures and sensitive colour moods. At the time of the Duke‘s death in 1416, about half of the work had been completed. The remaining parts were completed decades later by Jean Colombe in Bourges. Colombe, a representative of the late 15th century, not only continued the work, but also developed it further: his miniatures are more colourful, richer in detail, with a more advanced perspective and more intensive use of gold. Art historians suspect that another hand may have added parts around 1440, especially peasant scenes from the Fol. 196r: Michael‘s battle with the dragon (on the feast day of the archangel). The visionary apocalyptic battle takes place above Mont Saint Michel, one of the most important shrines in medieval France. calendar pages. The artists who created the initials and marginal decorations are not known by name, but their work also shows great mastery and fits harmoniously into the overall concept.

THE FACSIMILE EDITION

After 1410, with additions made around 1485, a codex was created in France that is rightly considered one of the most beautiful manuscripts ever produced. In 121 miniatures, a fascinating world of the Middle Ages unfolds, created in brilliant colours and shining gold: the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. This fantastic manuscript, measuring 29 x 21 cm, has been published as a perfect facsimile edition thanks to the latest technologies.

Faithful facsimile edition of manuscript Ms. 65 from the Musée Condé in Chantilly, in a strictly limited edition of only 800 copies worldwide. An incredible 121 miniatures and numerous magnificent initials, as well as delicate thorn leaf tendrils, illustrate this unique manuscript on 205 sheets in 29 x 21 cm format with the utmost craftsmanship. The cover of the original, a leather binding in elegant red with rich gold embossing, is reproduced true to the original – a true bibliophile‘s masterpiece. A luxury box protects this valuable edition. The accompanying scholarly volume illuminates all aspects of the manuscript, traces its exciting history and explains all the miniatures in detail. 

A MAJOR EUROPEAN PROJECT FEATURING THE LATEST TECHNOLOGIES –
 A MASTERPIECE OF FACSIMILE ART 

Thanks to state-of-the-art technologies, this edition breaks new ground: in close cooperation with several European publishers from Germany, Italy and Spain, all available technologies were used to realise completely new possibilities in pre-press and printing. The facsimile is based on a complete new recording of the precious manuscript. With unprecedented resolution and sharpness, the edition breaks new ground in terms of quality – in virtually every aspect. An incredible wealth of detail is revealed to the viewer, who is decisively supported by the use of the latest types of gold, the targeted use of varnish and the overprinting of white ink to create a completely new opaque impression and thus come closer to the original than ever before.

THE DOCUMENTATION WITH SIX ORIGINAL FINE ART FACSIMILE LEAVES

Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is the most famous illustrated manuscript of the 15th century. In 121 incredible miniatures – including the world-famous calendar pages – a breathtaking panorama of the world of the 15th century unfolds, executed in brilliant colours and shining gold. The greatest masters of their time were involved in this masterpiece.

Of course, the original facsimile pages of the documentation are of the usual perfect quality – see for yourself and order them today! A total of six original facsimile pages, including detailed descriptions, bring you closer to this masterpiece of book illumination, in which the texts are complemented by miniatures in radiant colours. A richly illustrated information brochure gives you an insight into the world of medieval book illumination, introduces you to the incredible world of miniatures after 1400 and traces the intricate paths of the manuscript to the present day.