5. Non-religious books such as romances, histories, legends, and writings that tell us about the everyday lives of these people who lived hundreds of years ago.
The Masterpieces
I was surprised to learn that the age of the illuminated manuscript as a unique art form spanned many centuries and was vastly influential all over the western world. I was originally under the impression that this was a rarefied art form carried out in the obscurity of monasteries. Instead this was an impactful art form that influenced the history of art and development of new styles and maturity of art techniques, helped by the impact of these books and their art as they traveled the world between the monasteries and knowledge centers, affecting artisans and their work with their innovations. Indeed, we saw in our last article how the monks creating these books literally preserved western/Christian civilization.
Lindisfarne Gospels
This masterpiece of medieval illumination was written about 700 A.D. and contains the Four Gospels and other religious lessons and canons, written in Latin in double columns with the Saxon translation between each line--the earliest form of the Gospels in English. It is written in a beautiful calligraphy style called uncial and adorned with intricate patterns consisting of interlaced ribbons, spiral lines, and geometrical knots, sometimes ending with heads of birds and beasts.
Les Très Riches Heures
The second masterpiece we'll discuss is "Les Très Riches Heures of Chantilly," sometimes called the "Book of Hours of the Duc de Berry," or even "The King of Illuminated Manuscripts." It is the classic example of a medieval book of hours. It was commissioned by the Duc de Berry of France in 1413 in his quest for ever more beautiful books, first commissioning the "Petites Heures" (Little Hours), then the "Belles Heures" (Beautiful Hours), and finally "Très Riches Heures" (Very Rich Hours). The final version is the most masterful, making the work of the previous versions seem youthful and immature--the decorations are imaginative instead of conventional, each landscape is fresh and innovative.
The three artists, the Limbourg brothers, sadly died before the manuscript was completed. At Christus Rex the manuscript is reproduced virtually in its entirety; note especially the elegant and naturalistic imagery of the Garden of Eden, the Coronation of the Virgin, the month of January, or the scene of the Fall of the Rebel Angels for stunning examples of perspective and composition. As author Jean Longnon comments, "One can imagine the Duc de Berry's joy upon seeing the results of his artists' inspiration, for none of these subjects were usually included in a Book of Hours. What might these gifted artists have produced had they lived longer?" For an enlightening discussion on this book that easily relates its status as a masterpiece, see Louis Gillet's article in the Catholic Encyclopedia.
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