Book of Hours of Doña Mencía de Mendoza

Book of Hours of Doña Mencía de Mendoza

A true gem of 16th century illumination: the Book of Hours of Doña Mencía de Mendoza with the measurements of 8.5 x 6 cm. The commissioner and namesake of the magnificent manuscript, a Spanish noblewoman and wife of Count Henry III of Nassau, is known up to this day as an outstanding example of an early modern educated woman. Along with her husband, Doña Mencía de Mendoza was a great lover and supporter of the arts and patronized important figures in art history. As such, she naturally put the highest value on the great accomplishments of the artists, and they found expression in her wonderful book of hours!

Marvelous Miniatures about the Life of the Virgin Mary

The manuscript in the delicate format of 8.5 x 6 cm collects a total of 17 full-page miniatures on 404 pages. The marvelous paintings present among others depictions of the Legends of the Virgin Mary – from the Annunciation and Birth of Christ up to the Coronation of Mary – in addition to those of the four Evangelists and a few additional saints, who probably had a particular personal significance for the commissioner of the work. These scenes, which continuously broke up and illustrated the text a successful way, were absorbed by splendid marginal decorations.

An Interesting Female Figure of the 16th century

Doña Mencía de Mendoza’s coat of arms is repeatedly illustrated in the manuscript. Doña Mencía de Mendoza (1508–1554) was already described by contemporaries as an outstanding example of an educated woman in the 16th century. The Spanish noblewoman was the Marquesa del Cente and was also of significance in European history. She married for the first time in 1524: she was the third wife of Count Henry III of Nassau, Lord of Breda and the governor of Holland and Zealand from 1515 to 1521. He engaged himself with his wife as an important collector and supporter of the arts. Found among others in his collection were works by Hieronymus Bosch and Jan Gossaert. Mencía turned the court of Breda – the palace of Breda was remodeled in the Renaissance style in accordance with the wishes of the couple – into a center of the arts and a meeting point of the literati. Doña Mencía de Mendoza received a humanist education – as a student of the humanist Juan Luis Vives – and was a great fighter for the worth of women in 16th century society. Her likeness survives in a portrait by Simon Benning.

A Very Personal Glimpse

Alongside the coat of arms of Doña Mencía de Mendoza as the Marquesa del Cente on one page in the manuscript is the coat of arms of Count Henry III of Nassau, the first husband of Doña Mencía de Mendoza. Thus the book of hours contains direct notes concerning its owner and her famous spouse. As a result, the book of hours, which is housed today in the Instituto de Valencia de Don Juan in Madrid, offers a direct glimpse into the life of this impressive and important 16th century female figure!