Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux

As Hours of Jeanne d' Evreux one hours book is called, which until 1328 was born about 1325 in Paris and was illuminated by the court painter Jean Pucelle with 24 full-page miniatures and about 700 marginal figures. This small-format book of hours with a format of 9.4 by 6.4 cm following the Dominican liturgy and is considered an outstanding example of Gothic manuscript illumination. Special art-historical importance it is, among other things because Pucelle with this work the grisaille technique introduced in book illumination, which should remain very popular throughout the 14th century, and as the first truly three-dimensional internal space representation north finds the Alps in him.

The name was inspired by Jeanne d' Evreux Book of Hours, the wife of the French King Charles the Fair, for this could make the book as a gift. It is preserved today in the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Miniatures

On the first double page spread pictured here on the right is preaching. The Archangel Gabriel and Mary are located within a Gothic hall, whose front was opened like a door from a crouching angel. In the open arcade beneath the roof sit praying, on the sides two angels playing musical instruments. In the figurative Iniatiale D Domine, labia mea Aperies ( " Lord, open my lips " ) occurs Jeanne d' Evreux itself as tiny crowned figure, in front of a kneeling prayer book, in appearance. The border below the two lines of text some ladies play a game. The scene on the left represents the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, including a red -written text with the announcement of Marienoffiziums and at the foot of the page a more disjointed view of two men on a goat and a ram that thrust a barrel.

The second introduction page shows Christ with the cross and opposite the Annunciation to the shepherds by the angel. The merry angels and other marginal figures complement the scene. The gothic ornaments on the upper edge of both miniatures give the double page a certain balance, almost a symmetry. The two crouching caryatids that support the frame of the miniature, are comparable with the angel of the previous page which holds the Annunciation.

Testament of Queen Jeanne

It is historically significant that Queen Jeanne her book of hours the reigning Valois King Charles V (France) bequeathed. " .. First of all for the King, our Lord, a little prayer book that King Charles, God have mercy on his soul, had for Madame can make, the illuminated Pucelle ". The mention of the artist's name indicates that Pucelle after his death, the royal family was remembered for a long time.