AUTHOR: THREE ARTISTS

LANGUAGE: LATIN, OLD FRENCH

DATE: 1300-1325

PAGE #: 246

REPRODUCTION DIMENSIONS: 11.25 X 8.75 IN

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HISTORY/DESCRIPTION: THIS BOOK OF HOURS WAS CREATED IN NORTHEASTERN FRANCE IN THE EARLY FOURTEENTH CENTURY, POSSIBLY FOR THE MARRIAGE OF LOUIS I OF CHATILLON AND JEANNE OF HAINAUT, AS THE CHATILLON DE BLOIS ARMS ARE DEPICTED ON FOLIOS 19 RECETO AND 81 VERSO, AND THE ARMS OF HAINAUT ALSO APPEAR IN THE BORDERS, INCLUDING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE CHATILLON ARMS ON FOLIO 19 RECTO. THE MANUSCRIPT IS EXCEPTIONAL FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF DROLLERIES AND LIVELY HYBRIDS THAT INHABIT NEARLY EVERY PAGE. STYLISTICALLY THESE IMAGES HAVE BEEN LINKED TO A WORKSHOP IN THE ARTOIS REGION, POSSIBLY BASED IN ARRAS, IN NORTHEAST FRANCE. ALTHOUGH THE MANUSCRIPT IN INCOMPLETE, LACKING ITS CALENDAR AND LIKELY SOME IMAGES, ITS SURVIVING ILLUMINATION PROVIDES AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF THE PLAYFULNESS OF ART DURING THIS PERIOD. THE FIRST FOLIO WITH MINIATURES AND LAST TWO FOLIOS WERE ADDED EARLY IN THE WORK’S EXISTENCE. IT IS WRITTEN IN TEXTURA FORMATTA (A FORMAL GOTHIC SCRIPT FOUND IN ELABORATE MANUSCRIPTS OF THE PERIOD), WITH THE TEXT IN BLACK INK AND RUBRICS IN RED. THREE ARTISTS’ HANFS ARE DISTINGUISHABLE. THE HIGHEST QUALITY IMAGES ARE BY THE FIRST ARTIST, THE SECONDARY ARTIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR HISTORIATED INITIALS IN THE HOURS OF THE VIRGIN, AND A THIRD AND LESS SKILLED ARTIST IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REMAINING MINIATURES. THE MAIN DECORATIVE ELEMENTS ARE: EIGHT MINIATURES AND FIVE EXTANT HISTORIATED INITIALS SET WITHIN HEAVY GOLD ARCHITECTURAL FRAMES; DECORATED ILLUMINATED INITIALS AT SECONDARY TEXT DIVISIONS; BORDERS AROUND TEXT AND LINE FILLERS FOUND INTERMITTENTLY THROUGHOUT, WITH LINE FILLERS CONTAINING HYBRIDS, DRAGONS, FISH, ANIMALS, AND FOLIAGE.

REPRODUCTION DETAILS: OUR HARDCOVER BOOKS ARE MADE WITH REAL WOOD FOR THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT AND BACK COVERS AS WELL AS THE SPINE. THE LEATHER IS A 4 OZ COWHIDE, FROM A SMALL SUPPLIER IN NORTH CAROLINA. THE LEATHER IS ADHERED TO THE COVERS WITH GLUE AND MOLDED INTO THE SHAPE AT THE HAND OF OUR LOCAL ARTISANS. THE SIGNATURES/PAGES ARE HANDSEWN USING A LIBRARY BINDING METHOD. THE SEWN BOOK IS BOUND WITH A STRONG ADHESIVE GLUE THAT MAKES THE BINDINGS LAST, ESPECIALLY FOR THE LARGER BOOKS. WE ALSO ADD A THICK MULL CLOTH TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE BINDING, DRYING IN BETWEEN EACH LAYER, A TRADITIONAL WAY TO MAKE THE BINDING STIFF, STRONG, AND RESILIENT FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.

NOTE: ALL OF OUR FACSIMILES ARE MADE TO ORDER. PLEASE ALLOW 4-6 WEEKS FOR NOTIFICATION OF SHIPMENT.