Book Altar of Philip the Good

Book Altar of Philip the Good

Sometime in the year 1430, a handwritten and illuminated codex, which is unique in the history of illumination to this day, arose in France. The Book Altar of Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, is a unique combination of a private prayer and devotional book and a panel diptych. The exceptional work contains a selection of prayers and miniatures that played a special role in the spiritual life of the Duke. This is a manuscript that was made exactly according to the personal wishes of Philip the Good and which he used daily for quiet devotion and meditation until the end of his life. The booklet’s mere 76 pages also contain five additional splendid miniatures in addition to the diptych. Many gold initials in various sizes further adorn the manuscript.

From the Personal Property of Philip the Good

Philip the Good spent his time during his reign in various, sometimes far-flung residences of the ruling family of Burgundy. These trips from location to location were of great significance for his depiction of his sovereign might and was part of the everyday life of the prince. The devout ruler dedicated himself to prayer and meditation daily. In order to have the Word of God to generally guide him, he had a small and easy to handle prayer book made, from which he practiced private devotion until the end of his life. The diptych part of the prayer book exhibits two pictures, which already originate from 20 years before the body of the book. Both of the pictures occupied a place of such high meaning for Philip, that he wanted to have them before him for his daily prayers. That is why they were appended to the book in such an unusual and unique way. The prayer texts, which Philip chose for his devotional book, also mirrored very personal themes. There were biblical themes chosen with which the Duke intimately concerned himself, e.g. Psalms from the Devotions of St. Bernhard of Clairvaux and John’s story of the Passion. Historically interested readers gain a very personal and private glimpse into the life of the late-medieval prince through the booklet.

Illumination full of Signs and Symbols

The Book Altar of Philip the Good was furnished with **splendid and elaborate miniatures and countless additional decorative elements of gold and silver by an unknown illuminator. The first double-page of the book contains numerous symbols of rule of the house of Burgundy as well as the personal coat of arms of Philip the Good. A pilgrim badge, which was typically affixed to hats and clothing in the Late Middle Ages, was sewn into the prayer book. Each miniature of the booklet shows Philip at prayer. Sometimes he is also depicted alone, sometimes with his son Charles or also while visiting mass. A few miniatures depict the veneration of the Holy Trinity. Half of the diptych sections show a traditional representation of the trinity. The tone of this theme is bound up in the fact that the monastery, in which the Dukes of Burgundy found their final resting place, was consecrated to the Trinity. As a result, the trinity is the overarching pictorial theme in the Book Altar of Philip the Good. The handsome script of the book was rounded out by diverse and imaginative ornamentation.