Hours of Philip the Bold

The Book of Hours of Philip the Bold is a so-called Horarium that Philip II, Duke of Burgundy belonged. This politician, who was eager to settle the affairs of the French crown in his favor, took time each day to listen to the show, and took his Book of Hours, his rosary and a portable reliquary on all his travels. The Marie -portrait, which has originating from touching and kissing tracks, was worshiped by him apparently as an icon.

Description

The prayer book of Cambridge is very similar in style and external appearance two others, Philip the Bold, created for hours books that are now in the Bibliotheque Royale in Brussels. These three books are sequential volumes with supplementary texts, because there is no repetition of the text of the Fitzwilliam manuscript.

On the basis of stylistic features can be noted that his Book of Hours was built around the year 1370 in Paris, a few years after he became Duke of Burgundy. As an owner, he is confirmed by documentary evidence and heraldic, though the picture above the heraldry is almost completely obliterated. It's just a sign with traces of the Burgundian colors red and blue to identify and outline the lines of two lions as plate holder. The small kneeling figure beneath a golden curtain in front of a decorated with coats of arms lilies wall carpet in the Initial D above " Domine, labia mea Aperies " can be identified as Philip himself. He looks up to the Virgin Mary in the thumbnail, which is in typical Gothic attitude in a portico in front of a similarly patterned curtain. The usual coming from the left Archangel Gabriel indicated by a dramatic gesture upward to God the Father and the angels.

The performing artists

The miniatures in Philip's Book of Hours are from two artists. The first who painted the scenes of the calendar and ten of the eleven large miniatures, was identified by Eric Millar Maitre aux Boqueteaux. The second artist belongs to the same workshop, is a little less skillfully. The Maitre aux Boqueteaux was named after the parasol -like clumps of trees, which are a characteristic feature of his works. His miniatures are mostly located in four matching shaped frame, this little scenes come at the foot of the page. These baseboards are painted on very delicate manner and show a great love for animals.