The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau
The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau
The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau
The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau from the 15th century is one of the most extraordinary and splendid works of medieval illumination. Created in the 1470s at the Burgundian court under Charles the Bold, it embodies the artistic refinement of that era. The book also marks a transition to a new age under Philip the Fair, the first Habsburg Duke.
ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANTE
The Book of Hours originally belonged to Engelbert II of Nassau (1451–1504), a prominent count in the Burgundian realm and a loyal follower of Charles the Bold. Later, the manuscript was presented to the new ruler, Philip the Fair (1478–1506), after it had been adapted to contemporary tastes and adorned with Philip’s coat of arms.
ARTISTIC DESIGN
The miniatures were created by the Master of Mary of Burgundy, a mysterious yet outstanding artist of the time. His works are distinguished by their delicacy and lightness, combined with atmospheric landscapes. The Book of Hours is renowned for its abundance of floral and animal motifs, particularly the numerous birds and vines that lend the work a special elegance.
CALLIGRAPHIC MASTERPIECES
In addition to the miniatures, the calligraphy by the famous scribe Nicolas Spierinc makes the book truly unique. The intricately designed initials and embellishments exemplify the high art of courtly illumination, serving as an expression of courtly sophistication. Spierinc’s pen strokes, often combined with fine lines and decorative patterns, add a distinctive touch to each page.
ALTERNATIONS AND PRESERVATION
Over time, the book was reworked to reflect the tastes and preferences of its new owners. The colours in the miniatures were softened to create a more subdued elegance, while bright backgrounds and vine patterns adorned the pages. Two sequences of drolleries (playful marginal illustrations) tell stories from courtly life and a parallel world filled with fantastical creatures.
TODAY
The Book of Hours is now preserved in the Bodleian Library in Oxford under the shelfmark MSS. Douce 219/220 and is considered one of the library’s greatest treasures. The modern edition faithfully reproduces the current state of the manuscript, which is now divided into two volumes.
Characteristics
The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau | |
| Creation Year | 1570s, divided into two volumes since the 18th century. |
| Place of Origin | Burgund |
| Library | Bodleian Library, Oxford |
| Signature | MSS. Douce 219/220 |
| Extent | 247 folios |
| Miniatures | 74 Miniatures |
| Type of Manuscript | Book of hours |
| Artist/Workshop | Manuscript |
| Mary of Burgundy | |
The Edition
The Book of Hours of Engelbert of Nassau | |
| Format | 24,5cm x 18,5cm |
| Limitation | 900 handnumbered copies |
| Binding | Bound in genuine leather covers with rich gold embossing, the volumes are stored in red leather slipcases, also gold-embossed, and delivered in an elegant luxury case. |
| Publisher | Müller und Schindler |
| Item Number | |
Questions and Answers
Who was Al-Sufi and what was his contribution to astronomy?
Al-Sufi was a Persian scholar of the 10th century who corrected and expanded upon the works of Ptolemy. He combined his own empirical observations with the findings of Arabic astronomy and created detailed star catalogues.
What role did Ulugh Beg play in the development of astronomy?
Ulugh Beg, a Timurid ruler and scholar of the 15th century, commissioned the calligraphy and illustration of Al-Sufi’s work. He also built an observatory in Samarkand, where he made precise astronomical measurements and produced a star catalogue that remained highly accurate until the time of Tycho Brahe.
What is Ptolemy's Almagest?
The Almagest is a systematic handbook of mathematical astronomy, written by Ptolemy in the 2nd century AD, which was a cornerstone of astronomical knowledge for centuries.
Which celestial bodies and phenomena did Al-Sufi describe?
Al-Sufi described, among other things, the Large Magellanic Cloud (al-Bakr) and the Andromeda Galaxy. He also depicted the mythological figures of the constellations twice: once as they appear in the sky and once projected onto a sphere.
What was the significance of Samarkand under Ulugh Beg?
Under Ulugh Beg, Samarkand became a centre of Islamic culture and science. He built a renowned madrasa and a cutting-edge observatory, which was among the most advanced of its time.
How did Al-Sufi’s work influence later Western astronomy?
Al-Sufi’s work served as a model for star charts and celestial globes for centuries, both in the Islamic world and in the Christian West. His observations were integrated into later scientific works and influenced the development of Western astronomy.
What technological innovations helped improve astronomical observations in Samarkand?
The observatory in Samarkand was equipped with advanced instruments that allowed Ulugh Beg and his scholars to make extremely precise measurements, such as calculating the length of the sidereal year. This made Samarkand a centre for empirical research.
In what ways did Arabic astronomy build on and expand ancient Greek teachings?
Arabic scholars combined Greek texts like the Almagest with their own observations, refining astronomical models. This synthesis led to new insights regarding the positions and movements of stars and planets.
