![]() ![]() Indeed, the best-seller of the late middle ages was the book of hours, a prayer book for lay people, often illuminated with many miniatures. Liturgical books and books for private devotion were in constant demand and frequently illuminated. The university provided the major impetus for book production and a large number of texts were economically structured with simple coloured initials or pen-flourishing. Such precious and often highly illuminated manuscripts were luxury products and relatively rare. After the death of Charles V, a generation of younger artists emerged, replacing the Boqueteaux group, and prolonged certain aspects of this fourteenth-century style until the end of the reign of Charles VI (1380-1422). Typical are trees in umbrella form, called ‘boqueteaux’ in French, used not only by the Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy but also by a group of artists working in a similar style. In the reign of Charles V (1364-1380), the most productive workshop in Paris, however, was directed by the Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy, whose style reflects the impact of Pucelle, but moves towards a greater naturalism, especially in the representation of landscapes. Many artists fled with their French patrons to the provinces, spontaneously creating new centres throughout the realm.Īt the end of the fourteenth century Parisian manuscript illumination was still influenced by Jean Pucelle, an artist active in the first third of the fourteenth century and whose greatest follower, Jean le Noir, lived until the 1370s. Paris played a central role until 1420, when after the Treaty of Troyes the English seized the capital and Normandy. During the reign of Charles VI (1380-1422), Paris was the most important commercial and scholarly centre in Europe, attracting artists from all over France and Europe. Despite the ravages of the Hundred Years War (1338-1453) and the Black Death (1348), the Paris book trade continued in the fourteenth century due to the keen interest of the Valois kings and princes, notably the learned king Charles V (reigned 1364-1380). FAMOUS ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS PROFESSIONALThe first lay workshops for the production of manuscripts appeared in Paris in the twelfth century, but the number of artisans multiplied rapidly in the thirteenth, and served not only the clergy, masters in the schools and the nobility, but also the mercantile and professional classes. It increased steadily in size and wealth, and by the late thirteenth century it was one of the most densely populated cities in Europe and a recognized artistic centre. At this time Paris burgeoned into a university city and became the established capital of the French kings. During the twelfth century cities began to take over this role. Most manuscripts were produced in monasteries in the early middle ages. Paris regains its leading role in book production Paris in the shadow of Tours: established workshops ![]() The Loire as a favoured residence of the kings and the court John, duke of Berry, an exceptional patron of the arts Click on the image to magnify it and to see further information about the artist.Īlthough the texts are conceived to be read independently, their order is based on both chronology and artistic relationships.įor alphabetical order of the artists’ names, use the index.Ĭlick on the links below for an introduction to the central themes of the period. The selection of artists from different parts of France gives a sense of manuscript production outside these centres.Ĭlick on each of the links above for a list of artists active during that period.Įach image is identified by a short caption. Related centres such as Bourges and Rouen are also represented by examples from the main artists. ![]() In the second half of the fifteenth century, the Loire region became the main residence of the French court and Tours took over the leading role in the production of luxury manuscripts. The focus lies on artists active in Paris, a renowned artistic centre in not only France but also Europe. This introduction to French illuminated manuscripts from the late fourteenth to the early sixteenth century presents examples of the work of the main artists of that time, as represented in the British Library. Illuminated by the Master of the Boucicaut Hours French illuminated manuscripts: late fourteenth to early sixteenth century Paris ![]()
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