This prayer book preserves a large variety of intricate and very expressive miniatures that transport the observer to a world full of saints, beasts and monsters – all surrounded by the transcendent shine of liquid gold. It features countless initials in burnished gold and in colour, 14 large miniatures with full illuminated borders, many with little scenes in medallions. Completed by three additional fully illuminated borders and adorned with panel borders in compartment style in liquid as well as burnished gold, this book of hours is quite literally overflowing with astonishing artwork.
At the end of the Hundred Years’ War in 1453, Rouen was no longer occupied by the English. This development led to a change on the city’s book market, leading to a new client circle with a high demand for manuscripts, including books of hours, historical and juridical texts. The best illuminations of this period are attributed to the so-called Master of the Échevinage de Rouen, named after a group of manuscripts made for the échevins, the aldermen of Rouen, one of the first public authorities in France to assemble a public library.
This manuscript was manufactured in the Master’s busy and large workshop, which employed a high number of assistants, who were able to refer to prototypes and rely on models that they repeated with slight variations from one manuscript to another. The same applies to the painterly style, which is characterized by a crisp, graphic approach. It is likely that the present manuscript was made in collaboration with the illuminator Robert Boyvin, who was active between 1487 and 1536. He, too, was linked to the city. Since the beginning of the 15th century, Boyvins family was an established name in Rouen’s book trade.
This book of hours truly reflects the joy of the illuminator’s craft. Despite being manufactured during a time of high demand and increasingly standardized production methods, one cannot help but marvel at the whimsical and humorous details and the vivid colours.
