Book of Hours of Luis de Laval

Book of Hours of Louis de Laval

Numerous big names are associated with the Book of Hours of Luis de Laval. The commissioner was an important politician under the French King Louis XI (1423–83) and bequeathed the manuscript after his death to his daughter Anne de France. The artist of the numerous unbelievable miniatures was Jean de Colombe, the most important French illuminator of his time, whose name is also associated with the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. Nevertheless, aside from this name, the artistic furnishing of the manuscript alone makes it clear that this is not a typical book of hours, but rather something exceptional!

Outstanding Miniature Painting of the 15th Century

With a relatively large format for a prayer book, the Book of Hours of Luis de Laval contains 700 pages of true treasures of illumination. An unbelievable 1,234 miniatures, of which 157 are full-page, make the reading a true treat for the eyes of the beholder. Scenes from the lives of saints and the Bible, splendid calendar pages, but also allegories, coats-of-arms, and more offered the artist the opportunity to exhaust his full ability. Pictures were created atmospherically and with fine brushstrokes that impressed in particular with their landscapes and exceptional spatiality. Yet, even the depictions of individuals and large groups of people, such as the host of angels, were achieved in a unique way. The luminous and diverse colors were accentuated with the exceptionally rich application of gold.

Both Artist and Commissioner were Important Personalities in Their Time

Jean de Colombe is responsible as the artist for this splendor. The most important illuminator of his time operated a large art studio that supported the master in the realization of numerous important commissions. Thus, Jean de Colombe was employed by the Duke of Savoy among others. Ca. 1485 he completed his commission of the famous Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, which the famous Limburg Brothers had begun. He also found an important commissioner in Louis de Laval for the book of hours. He was an eminently influential and powerful politician under King Louis XI of France. He was named a Knight of the Ordre de Saint-Michel by the king because of his numerous merits. Louis de Laval commissioned numerous manuscripts from the greatest illuminators and is known to this day as a patron and lover of book art.

The Ownership History: A Chain of Famous Names

The Book of Hours of Louis de Laval, in its opulent adornment, is judged to more likely have served as a representational collector’s item than as a private devotional book for religious contemplation. Made by Jean de Colombe in the years 1470–75 and 1485–89, it contains numerous indications of its famous commissioner, for example, Louis de Laval’s coat-of-arms and chain of the Ordre de Saint-Michel, as well as portraits of the politician in various places. Also the coat-of-arms of Anne de France, Duchesse de Bourbon, can also be found discovered in the miniatures. She was the new owner of the splendid treasure, Louis de Laval had left it to the power- and self-conscious daughter of Louis XI. Finally, another indication of a royal owner is found on the red-brown leather binding of the manuscript: the monogram of Henry IV, who had the book hours fitted with a new binding while it was in his possession at the end of the 16th century. Today, the 15th century book treasure is stored in the Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris and still counts among the highpoints of French illumination of this period.