1415: The Zenith of Medieval Illumination

[Limbourg Brothers] ; [Longnon, Jean & Cazelles, Raymond]

The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry [Complete Facsimile] [1969]

New York: George Braziller, 1969.
The definitive mid-century color facsimile of the most famous illuminated manuscript of the Middle Ages. 

Originally commissioned by Jean de France, Duc de Berry, and executed by the Limbourg brothers between 1412 and 1416, the Tres Riches Heures represents the pinnacle of International Gothic art.

This Braziller edition, produced in collaboration with the Musée Condé in Chantilly, presents the full cycle of 139 miniatures—including the iconic Calendar series—with extraordinary fidelity. The accompanying commentaries by Jean Longnon and Raymond Cazelles provide a scholarly roadmap through the manuscript’s complex astrological, biblical, and social iconography.

KEY FEATURES
+++ Visuals: Features 139 meticulously reproduced color plates, including the full-page calendar miniatures and intricate historiated initials.
+++ Binding: Book is bound in fine red cloth with a bright gilt-stamped front emblem and spine titles; housed in the original slipcase featuring a paste-on color illustration and a side-mounted title plate.
+++ Content: Includes a detailed Preface by Millard Meiss and extensive commentaries on each plate, translating the original Latin context for the modern scholar.
+++ Imprint: George Braziller, New York. 1969. Photographed and printed in France by Draeger Frères.
+++ Specs: Slipcase 12 inches tall; Book 11.5 inches tall. Unpaginated plates with 29 pp. introductory material.

CONDITION: Fine / Very Good (Slipcase).
+++ The Book: Fine condition; no flaws. The red cloth is vibrant, the gilt is brilliant, and the bindings are tight and square. Internally pristine with no markings or signs of use.
+++ The Slipcase: Very Good state. Solid and structurally sound; the silk texture shows light, even age-soiling and minor shelf handling consistent with its age. The paste-on illustration and title plate remain intact and clear.

SCHOLARLY FEATURES
+++ Artistic Landmark: Serves as a primary reference for the Limbourg brothers' innovative use of perspective and naturalism, which fundamentally shifted the trajectory of Northern European art.
+++ Iconographic Study: Provides an exhaustive breakdown of the 'Virgin, the Sibyl, and the Emperor Augustus' and 'The Building of the Jerusalem Temple' miniatures, tracing the influence of Pisanello and contemporary Byzantine aesthetics on the artists.
+++ Socio-Political Record: The Calendar series offers an unparalleled visual record of 15th-century French life, contrasting the scantly-clad peasants mowing meadows in June against the architectural splendor of the Palais de la Cité.
+++ Scientific Context: Accurately reproduces the sophisticated astrological tympanums above the calendar months, allowing for the study of medieval celestial observation and timekeeping.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
The Tres Riches Heures is often called the 'King of Illuminated Manuscripts.' Until this Braziller facsimile was released in 1969, the manuscript was largely inaccessible to the general public, held under strict preservation at the Musée Condé.
This production allowed for a global re-evaluation of the Limbourg brothers' genius, proving that their work was not merely a devotional tool but a monumental bridge between medieval mysticism and the budding humanism of the Renaissance.

SUBJECTS: Illuminated Manuscripts, Medieval Art, Limbourg Brothers, Jean Duke of Berry, International Gothic Style, French History, Facsimile, Art History, Reference.

Item #21736

Price: $95.00