Book of Hours of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain

Book of Hours of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain

The Book of Hours of Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain counts as part of the distinguished works of the Late Middle Aged book painting and is considered to be among the most beautiful books of hours in the world. With its uncountable miniatures, spanning a total of 650 pages, this manuscript flaunts beauty that truly has no equal. The best Flemish book artists of their time brought true works of art onto these parchment pages. Presumably the book was a present from Emperor Maximilian I to the so-called Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain. The name of Margarete of York is also connected to this manuscript, as she was the original patron from the work in 1475.

Great Names from Art History

The 650 pages of the codex are split into three parts today; one in the Spanish National Library in Madrid, one in the State Museum of Berlin, and one in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It arose in 1475 in Ghent, one of the central hubs of Flemish art in the Late Middle Ages. Several artists have been identified as being involved in this high ranking work, such as the famous Master of the Book of Hours of Maria of Burgundy, and also the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook. Alongside that, several miniatures derive from Flemish book painter Simon Marmion, an exceptionally gifted artist of his time, as well as from Lieven van Lathem and Nicolas Spierinc. This enumeration of artists reads truly as a ‘Who’s Who’ of the art community of the late 15th century. At many of the places in thus gorgeous manuscript, the devise known as voustre demeure is present, which also coincidentally is a name which has been tied to this book, too. The officiating patron of the work was Margarete of York, the sister of King Edward IV of England and the wife of Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy. In roundabout way, the book ended up in the possession of Emperor Maximillian I. He then presumably gifted the work to Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain on the occasion of their wedding. This monarchal pair are also well-known under the designation of the ‘Catholic Monarchs’.

Images of Overwhelming Magnificence

Magnificence of immeasurable proportions opens up before the eyes of the beholder in this work. Natural depictions of plants and flowers alternate with illustrations of animals and insects. However, the splendor of these images serve only as the borders and backgrounds of the actual miniatures embedded within them. Three different types of miniature-pages are present in this book of hours: among them are 87 whole-page miniatures, such as the Madonna or an impressive Lamentation by Simon Marmion. There are the small miniature scenes in the edges and borders, such as saintly Annunciation scenes, as part of the aforementioned frames with flowers and animals. For example, Mary and Joseph’s search for lodging among the figures painted into the frames around the text. There are an astounding 583 quarter-page miniatures. Artful initials are integrated in the miniatures for the most part. Stylistically, the adornment of this book of hours is of the highest quality. The many innovations of Flemish illumination are richly applied to this work. Firstly, the observation of nature is the basis of the naturalistic paintings. Secondly, the illusionism of the composition, be it in relation to the background with architectural elements or the depictions of landscapes, or in relation to the interlaced, mutually reinforcing style of the border decorations and integrated miniature scenes. The magnificence of the codex is highlighted by the generous application of silver and gold to the ornamentation of the picture pages. The exterior, unfurled in a leather cover, promises the hidden treasure contained within this book of hours.