Description
The so-called Book of Hours of Modena is an extraordinary masterpiece of Italian Gothic. Illuminated manuscript on parchment, 1390, 15×21 cm, 544 pages, embroidered cap.
The Office of the Virgin Mary of Modena is a Book of Hours made in Lombardy and dated 1390. The codex, written and illuminated in fine parchment 15×21 cm format, consists of 272 sheets (corresponding to 544 pages). The decoration, painted with a profusion of gold leaf, has 28 full-page miniatures dedicated to the saints and religious festivals which 15 are fully framed with decorative friezes with plant motifs and miniatures depicting scenes from the life of Mary and Jesus; 10 large initials decorated with gold ornaments; 522 gold initials; Illuminated initials 2,500, of which 1,350 in gold and surrounded with golden lines 300 mostly. The writing is on the Gothic round, indexed securities. The content from the agenda, is the classic rite of the Roman Church.
The client who commissioned this extraordinary beauty was a wealthy Milanese nobleman, Balzarino of Pusterla, ambassador and courtier of Gian Galeazzo and Filippo Maria Visconti, whose coat of arms appears in c. 12r and embroidery on the back. The codex underwent several changes of ownership before arriving in the eighteenth century to the refined collection of the Marquis of Catajo Obizzi subsequently donated in 1817 to the Estense Library of Modena, where it remains today.
The codex is recognized by scholars as one of the masterpieces of international Gothic miniature. The miniatures have been recently attributed to Tomasino Vimercate, author of other manuscripts of the Visconti court and active in the late fourteenth century, in the workshop of Giovannino de Grassi. The Estense Officium is the ultimate expression of his art, always original, elegant and very sweet in the representations of female figures.
The binding of this beautiful and luxurious codex held in delicate red silk is embroidered entirely with decorative frames in gold thread, silver and color, and in the center of the cover the bust of the Virgin Mary is framed, while in The center back is embroidered coat of arms of the owner. Even the cover, tissue presumably XVI century by a member of the court, is the greatness, and the rarity of a true work of art.
To enable full visibility and full enjoyment, the codex is kept in a special box topped by a transparent cover.
The work is accompanied by a book of 128 pages of studies (in Italian), codicological, artistic and paleográfico. The limited and numbered edition only 499 copies for everyone, was carried out by Il Bulino (Italy).
Copy in perfect condition and at a great price. See any doubt.
Shipping by the buyer, upon request and destination. Ask us any questions and any other Book of Hours or fax you are looking for.
