The Très Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry - by Mathieu Deldicque & Pieter Roelofs & Till-Holger Borchert (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A splendid new reproduction of the most luxurious and most famous example of medieval illumination.

Commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry, in the early years of the fifteenth century, this devotional volume is among the greatest books of hours ever produced--and certainly the most important manuscript to survive the Middle Ages. Exuberant, detailed, and impossibly lavish, it encapsulates the most exquisite medieval calendar, which has become famous in its own right as a crown jewel of medieval art.

Painstakingly made by hand on 206 sheets of the finest calfskin by three Flemish artists--the Limbourg brothers Paul, Johan, and Herman--this book of hours is unrivaled as a monument to the art of making books prior to the printing press. The keen interest in the natural world and the naturalistic means of representing it in the striking illuminations foreshadow the work of the Dutch and Flemish Renaissance.

Recently restored at the Louvre's state-of-the-art facilities, the manuscript was explored in depth using the best imaging techniques and allowing hundreds of details to be analyzed. This volume is based on the finest reproductions possible, along with expert text that provides an entirely new and profound understanding of the artists' methods and their sublime illuminations.

Review Quotes

"New favorite design and art and style books in my collection. My lifetime collection. Books I love, books I admire, exceptional people. Books for reference. Volumes and ideas to inspire. Leading publishers. Ideas and inspiration. Classics. Books to collect and add to your lifetime library." -- the style saloniste, Diane Dorrans Saeks

"People know only the twelve months, but the rest of the manuscript is incredible . . . there are colors and inventions which are extraordinary . . . there should be a complete reproduction of the manuscript to make people know all the rest, which is really fantastic." -- Umberto Eco

"As a musical creator who looks to other creative, cultural, and historical forces for inspiration, I have found much in the world of illuminated manuscripts, and the inspiration runs deep. It's remarkable to be reminded of the riches which can emerge and the enduring evidence of the human desire to render them visually stunning. This book, dedicated to the works of Jean, Duke of Berry, brings this too-rare reality to life, casting the reader's mind full of wonder and curiosity." -- Loreena McKennitt, Canadian singer-composer whose "eclectic Celtic" music has received critical acclaim worldwide

"This book is a multi-faceted study of a jewel of a manuscript. Over a dozen experts in multiple fields examine the man who commissioned it, the artists who illuminated it, the manuscript's history and provenance, and its preservation and restoration. A pleasure to read and to look at, the book is generously illustrated and beautifully printed." -- Roger S. Wieck, Melvin R. Seiden Curator and Department Head of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City

About the Author

Mathieu Deldicque is one of France's leading art historians and has been director of the Musée Condé since 2022. Pieter Roelofs is an art historian specialized in Dutch Golden Age painting. Till-Holger Borchert is an art historian focused on Northern Renaissance art and historiography.