Les Très riches heures du Duc de Berry, Musée Condé, Chantilly;

by Raymond Cazelles

A ravishingly beautiful book filled with colourful gothic style, medieval illuminated depictions from the Bible, as well as fairytale castles, angels and animals. Created in the early 15th century, this Book of Hours was commissioned by the Duc de Berry and decorated by the Limbourg brothers, Paul, Herman and Jean, all three of whom died in 1416, when the eldest was little more than 30 years old, probably from an epidemic. This testament to their talent tells the story of the young illustrators and the history of the manuscript. The original consisted of 206 bound sheets of extremely well prepared, fine vellum. The book fully describes the various illustrations, elaborating on the meaning and symbolism to be found in each, thus further increasing delight as you pore over every intricate detail. Every miniature and a selection of the decorated text pages have been reproduced to size. All biblical passages are from the Douay version, the English translation of the Latin Vulgate, which was the Bible used at the time. Decorated in full colour and reproduced on quality paper to the best possible standard, very large pages and a staggering 139 colour plates. With satin bookmark.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, France, Medieval History, History, 15th Century

280 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1440

Reviews

[Justyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very lavishly published book about the Tres Riches Heures, one of the most beautiful manunsctipts of the late Middle Ages. The book is divided on two parts. The first contains fully-sized, enlarged, good quality reproductions of the pages of the manuscript with short descriptions, the second, the text in which the authors gathered essays on the history of this prayerbook, its painters, the Limbourg Brothers and their patron, Jean, duke of Berry, his art collection, and the very precise description of the manuscript with full bibliography. Must-read for the fans of Thes Riches Heures, the Limbourg Brothers or Jean de Berry.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

just picked this up at the library yesterday & i'm going to have to add it to my collection. a treasure trove of high medieval art, the figures are rendered with subtlety & intimacy, as well as unparalleled detail. tres riches heures also provides insights into daily medieval life of both peasants & lords.

[Barbra Quade]

This book is so beautiful you can lose yourself in it. This is a work of love and of a lifetime.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book - there is just so much to look at in the pictures, a complete joy and a delight .......
One word of warning - the quotes are all taken from the Douai version of the bible. Quite a number of the reference numbers aren’t the same as, for example, the King James version of the bible - or more modern translations....

[Dustin Kick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read almost none of the latin, but the expositional writing tells a very interesting history tale, and the art and the history of art contained in it is fascinating and beautiful.

[Alenka of Bohemia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning presentation of a remarkable book. Besides beautifully drawn biblical stories some of the plates show life in medieval times, almost like a time capsule.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning facsimile edition of the Book of Hours