J. Paul Getty Museum Showcases The Belles Heures of the Duke of Berry |
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| Monday, 17 November 2008 23:22 |
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Around 1405, Jean de France, duc de Berry (1340-1416) commissioned Franco-Netherlandish master illuminators Paul, Herman, and Jean de Limbourg (active in France, by 1399–1416) to create a luxurious Book of Hours for private devotional prayer, one of the most celebrated types of medieval illuminated manuscripts. Referred to as Belles Heures in the duke’s inventory, the book belongs today in The Cloisters Collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is the only manuscript that the celebrated Limbourg brothers completed and one of the most splendid books to have survived from the duke’s extensive library. The manuscript was recently unbound to allow for restoration and the production of a facsimile edition. Before the manuscript is re-bound, 180 pages containing more than 80 miniatures from the Belles Heures (ca. 1405-1408/09) will travel to Los Angeles, allowing West Coast audiences to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view this medieval treasure in its unbound state. “We are grateful to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for their exceptional generosity in lending this extraordinary manuscript to us,” says Thomas Kren, senior curator of manuscripts at the Getty Museum. “The Belles Heures of the duke of Berry is a terrific complement to the Getty’s stellar collection of western European manuscripts from the same period.” Kren continues, “We’re delighted to have these magnificent illuminations on view at the Getty while they’re unbound, thus enabling visitors to experience its wonders as only the duke of Berry, himself, and other owners of the book, have been able to.” The Belles Heures of the duke of Berry is beloved not only for the splendor of its miniatures but also for its sheer ambition. While every book of hours contains a collection of devotions with corresponding illustrations, the duke found the Limbourgs’ style so new and exciting that he decided to make the book much larger. In addition to the familiar subjects common to most books of hours—such as the story of the infancy of Christ—the Limbourgs added more extensive cycles. They included 11 miniatures of the life of Saint Catherine, a saint especially beloved by the French royal family, and 12 miniatures from the life of Saint Jerome, with whom the duke felt a special affinity. Produced in France, likely in Paris or Bourges, the Belles Heures of the duke of Berry is an illuminated manuscript consisting of ink, tempera, colors, and gold leaf on parchment. Using a luminous palette, the artists blended an intimate Northern vision of nature with Italian modes of representing the human figure. The keen interest in the natural world and the effects of light, so striking in its illuminations, foreshadow the art of Jan van Eyck (active by 1422-1441) and the achievement of Netherlandish painting through the 15th century. Jean de France, duc de Berry  The manuscript was commissioned by Jean de France, duc de Berry (1340-1416), one of the most famous art patrons of his time and, in fact, one of the greatest of all time. Jean was the third son of Jean II of France (r. 1360-64), brother of King Charles V (1364-80), the leading French bibliophile of his day, and the uncle of King Charles VI (1380-1422). Jean de Berry controlled a large territory in France during the middle period of the Hundred Years’ War and was very involved in politics throughout his long life. But he was also a sensualist, deeply involved in art, a great lover of beauty and objects, and he spent lavishly on works of art. In addition, he was a patron of tapestry, paintings, enamelwork, metalwork, jewelry, sculpture, and architecture and a ravenous collector of these same types of objects along with ancient cameos, jewels, and other artifacts. Jean de Berry loved beautiful books above all, and he sought out the finest artists, not only in France, but also from Italy and the Netherlands, to decorate them. Indeed his two commissions of the Limbourg brothers—the Très Riches Heures (Musée Condé, Chantilly) and the Belles Heures—are considered among the finest illuminated manuscripts of the Middle Ages. Yet they are but two among the 300 books that the duke had commissioned and acquired. By the time the duke met the Limbourg brothers, ca. 1405, when the Belles Heures was likely begun, the duke had already been a patron of art for more than 30 years. He had by then commissioned a series of books that by themselves would have assured his reputation as one of the greatest art patrons of the era. The Limbourgs’ work proved to be his crowning achievement as a patron. The Getty Center is open Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is closed Monday and major holidays. Admission to the Getty Center is always free. No reservation required. Reservations are required for event seating and groups of 15 or more. Additional information is available at www.getty.edu Click on logo below to add this article to your favorite Social Website ~ |
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