alb3663850

THE LIMBOURG BROTHERS. The Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry. Artist: The Limbourg Brothers (Franco-Netherlandish, active France, by 1399-1416). Culture: French. Dimensions: Single leaf, Overall: 9 3/8 x 6 11/16 in. (23.8 x 17 cm); Double leaf, Overall: 9 3/8 x 13 7/16 in. (23.8 x 34.1 cm). Date: 1405-1408/1409.
Created between 1405 and 1408 or 1409, probably in Paris, the Belles Heures, or Beautiful Hours, a private devotional book, is one of the most sumptuous manuscripts to have come down to us from the Middle Ages. Commissioned by Jean de France, duc de Berry from the Limbourg brothers, the most gifted artists of their time, it is the only manuscript completed by them in its entirety. The richly illustrated text is enhanced by seven unprecedented picture cycles devoted to Christian figures or events that held special significance for the duke. Using a luminous palette, the artists blended an intimate Northern vision of nature with Italianate modes of figural articulation. The keen interest in the natural world and the naturalistic means of representing it, so striking in the 172 illuminations, foreshadow the work of Jan van Eyck and the ensuing generations of outstanding 15th-century painters in the South Netherlands.

Share
Pinterest
Twitter
Facebook
Copy link
Email

Add to another lightbox

Do you already have an account? Sign in

You do not have an account? Register

Buy this image

Author:

THE LIMBOURG BROTHERS (active by 1399-1416)

Title:

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, Duc de Berry

Caption:

The Belles Heures of Jean de France, duc de Berry. Artist: The Limbourg Brothers (Franco-Netherlandish, active France, by 1399-1416). Culture: French. Dimensions: Single leaf, Overall: 9 3/8 x 6 11/16 in. (23.8 x 17 cm); Double leaf, Overall: 9 3/8 x 13 7/16 in. (23.8 x 34.1 cm). Date: 1405-1408/1409. Created between 1405 and 1408 or 1409, probably in Paris, the Belles Heures, or Beautiful Hours, a private devotional book, is one of the most sumptuous manuscripts to have come down to us from the Middle Ages. Commissioned by Jean de France, duc de Berry from the Limbourg brothers, the most gifted artists of their time, it is the only manuscript completed by them in its entirety. The richly illustrated text is enhanced by seven unprecedented picture cycles devoted to Christian figures or events that held special significance for the duke. Using a luminous palette, the artists blended an intimate Northern vision of nature with Italianate modes of figural articulation. The keen interest in the natural world and the naturalistic means of representing it, so striking in the 172 illuminations, foreshadow the work of Jan van Eyck and the ensuing generations of outstanding 15th-century painters in the South Netherlands.

Technique/material:

Tempera, gold, and ink on vellum

Museum:

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA

Credit:

Album / Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY

Releases:

Model: No - Property: No
Rights questions?

Image size:

3225 x 4400 px | 40.6 MB

Print size:

27.3 x 37.3 cm | 10.8 x 14.7 in (300 dpi)

Keywords:

BOOKS • CARTOUCHE • CLOISTERS, THE • EUROPE • FRANCE • GOLD • ILLUMINATIONS • INK • MADE IN PARIS, FRANCE • MANUSCRIPTS AND ILLUMINATIONS • MANUSCRIPTS • METAL • METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART, NEW YORK, USA • PAINTINGS • PARCHMENT • PARIS • PULLEY • ROLL • SCROLL • TEMPERA • TEMPERA, EGG-TEMPERA • TEMPERA, GOLD, AND INK ON VELLUM • TEMPLE • THE LIMBOURG BROTHERS • VELLUM