Of Anne of Brittany
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The Great Hours of Anne of Brittany Saint Mary Magdalen TRAVESERA DE GRACIA, 17-21 TEL. (+34) 932 402 091 www.moleiro.com 08021 BARCELONA - SPAIN FAX (+34) 932 015 062 www.moleiro.com/prensa The Great Hours of Anne of Brittany is undoubtedly a mas- terpiece of French painting, as is fitting for a manuscript intended for someone who was twice queen of France: with Charles VIII and then Louis XII. The folios of this codex feature veritable paintings rather than the minia- tures usual in this type of book. Jean Bourdichon painted almost fifty full-page scenes with gold frames upon a ground of parchment dyed black. These minia- tures are comparable to paintings on canvas or board not only because of their dimensions but also because of their foregrounds, use of perspective, pictorial technique, realism of the portraits, etc. The Nativity (f. 51v) is one of the most outstanding night scenes ever paint- ed in a book of hours. The supernatural light cast by the star of Bethlehem magically illuminates an image conveying a clear, theological message. Master Bourdichon’s talent stands out again in the Flight to Egypt (f. 76v), whose light, atmosphere and dark background of rocky mountains recall Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks. The play of light and shade in a starry night is also masterful in the scene of Judas’ kiss (f. 227v); the lamps and torches guide the spectator’s gaze so that no detail of the tragic scene is overlooked. Bourdichon enhances the intriguing luminosity of his colours by delicate brushstrokes of gold that highlight garments, weapons, hair, angels’ wings, etc. Also noteworthy is the remarkably innovative nature of the calendar featur- ing not just marginal scenes but full-page paintings interrupted by the framed text beneath the sign of the zodiac of each month. This arrangement was apparently not used in French miniatures prior to Jean Bourdichon except in two manuscripts. The magnificent herbal in the margins of the text folios makes this manu- script a peerless book of hours. The margins of this codex constitute a compre- hensive, botanical treatise of more than 330 plants, with their scientific names in Latin at the top of the image and their common names in French at the bot- tom. Furthermore, this veritable herbal is dotted with brightly-coloured insects and small animals that enhance the beauty and originality of each miniature. This is, in short, two codices in one: a spiritual book for meditation and prayer, and a natural encyclopaedia; a book of hours and a botanical treatise. · Shelf mark: Lat. 9474 · 337 marginal illuminations Bibliothèque · Date: c. 1503-1508 with plants, insects and nationale de · Size: 305 x 200 mm small mammals France · Written in Latin · Painter: Jean Bourdichon · 476 illuminated pages with · Provenance: Tours 49 full-page miniatures · Full-colour commentary volume Master Bourdichon was court painter to Louis XI, Charles VIII, Louis XII and Francis I, and his paintings clearly contributed to the Gothic to Renaissance evolu- tion. Following the death of the duchess of Brittany in 1514, her Great Hours enthralled Louis XIV who transferred them to the “curiosities cabinet” at the palace of Versailles. This beauti- ful codex subsequently enrap- tured Napoleon III, who exhibit- ed it at the Musée des Souverains in the Louvre from 1852 to 1872. It is now one of the most highly-prized treasures of the Bibliothèque nationale de France. Not in vain do art historians deem the Great Hours of Anne of Brittany to be one of the most outstanding books of hours in existence. “First, unique and unrepeatable edition” This is the FIRST and ONLY edition ever to be completed of the original Latin 9474. It is unrepeatable and limited to 987 copies, each one individually numbered. Binding The current state of the Great Hours of Anne of Brittany is exceptional, so much so, that it conserves the binding and clasps as can be seen in this photograph taken in the Bibliothèque nationale de France at the beginning of April 2006. Of course, M. Moleiro will reproduce the binding in exactly the same way. We will use the same leather, the same metal for the clasps and the same threads for stitching. It will have the same raised cords and endbands. Anne of Brittany surrounded by St Anne, St Margaret and St Ursula Index of images: Saint Mary Magdalen, f. 201v (front cover) Border (detail), field pea, f. 48r The Deposition, f. 2v Calendar, January, f. 4r Calendar, May, f. 8r Calendar, August, f. 11r Visitation of St Anne, f. 36v Border: white and red roses, f. 37r Nativity, f. 51v Border: columbine, f. 42r Annunciation to the shepherds, f. 58v Border: mallow, f. 71r Border: loose-flowered orchid, f. 65v Presentation of the Crown of Thorns, f. 211v Flight into Egypt, f. 76v Border: thistle, f. 77r Border: saffron, f. 104v The Holy Trinity, f. 155v Border: poppy, f. 98v Saint Lifardus, f. 185v Saint Gabriel, f. 167v Border: black raisin, f. 156r Saint Nicholas, f. 183v Border: cherry, f. 85r Saint Helena and the true Cross, f. 207v Border: dragon arum, f. 80r The Holy Family, f. 215v Judas’ kiss, f. 227v Binding of the Great Hours of Anne of Brittany Portrait of Anne of Brittany at prayer, f. 3r Border (detail), peach, f. 180r (back cover).