Gourmet & Galleries

Sumptuously Illustrated Medieval Manuscript The "Belles Heures" of Jean de France,
Duc de Berry, at Metropolitan Museum

A courtyard in the Metropolitan Museum

One of the most beautiful manuscripts in the world, the lavishly illustrated medieval prayer book known as the "Belles Heures" (beautiful hours) is on display at New York’s Metropolitan Museum. Created by the Limbourg Brothers—three of the greatest illuminators in Europe—for one of the most famous art patrons of all time, Jean de France, Duc de Berry (1340–1416), the manuscripts were highly valued. Jean de France commissioned luxury works in many media—from chalices to castles—without regard for cost, but is best remembered for his patronage of manuscripts.

For the publication of a facsimile edition, the book itself was temporarily unbound and conserved, allowing its dazzling illustrated pages to be viewed individually. The Art of Illumination: The Limbourg Brothers and the "Belles Heures" of Jean de France, Duc de Berry. the presentation at the Metropolitan features all of the book's 172 stunning illuminations, a never-to-be-repeated opportunity to view the manuscript without turning a single page.

The courtyard of the "Belles Heures" manuscript

exhibition

Newport Seen went down to study the intricacy and delicacy of the “Belles Heures” illluminated manuscripts, which is reminisicent of the finest Chinese embroidery. One thinks that the Limbourg brothers might have gone blind in their pursuit of the perfect letter, the most exquisite illustration. The Metropolitan wisely provides magnifying glasses to visitors, to better see the detail and workmanship.

The great achievement of the Limbourg brothers—who were startlingly young when they created this manuscript—is the unique combination of clarity, luminosity, drama, and breathtaking technique with which they ornamented every page. The "Belles Heures "was truly the laboratory for the development of their artistic vision."prayer for travelers, in which the duc de Berry himself is portrayed on horseback leaving his castle with his retinue.

Wall descriptors of the objects depicted

The Limbourgs were hired as illuminators by Philip the Bold, the Duke of Burgundy. After Philip's death in 1404, his brother Jean de France engaged them and retained their services for the rest of their lives. (The Limbourg Brothers died within months of one another in 1416.) The "Belles Heures" is one of three manuscripts that they are known to have worked on, yet it is the only complete manuscript attributed to them that was also entirely illuminated by them. Though small in scale—the book measures slightly less than 9–1/2 by 7 inches (23.8 x 16.8 cm)—the illustrations are monumental in impact, and its youthful artists succeeded in creating a masterpiece of luminous

Paige Bart, Noelle LeCann & Richard Fronapfel, Jr.

in the statuary hall

The "Belles Heures" contains all the typical components of a French Book of Hours, along with seven additional highly ornamented and richly illustrated sections. These insertions were the framework within which the Limbourg Brothers marshaled light, color, and realistic detail in the service of storytelling. Created over a three- to four-year period from 1405 to 1408/9, the "Belles Heures" is composed of 224 folios, or leaves, of the highest-quality vellum (calfskin) so skillfully prepared that each folio is translucent, and the text and decoration on one side can be seen from the reverse. Each page sparkles from the generous application of gold leaf in the border, and an unusually wide range of colors—including the brilliant and valuable ultramarine blue originating from Afghanistan—dazzle the eye.

Newport Seen then dined with friends and family in the Trustees dining room, and walked through the magnificent Museum, pausing at French furniture, and at the display of objects and modern furnishings from the mid-twentieth century.