Isabella Breviary [Paperback]

Janet Backhouse (Author)

Available from these sellers.

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1993

The Breviary of Queen Isabella of Castile is one of the most splendid of Flemish illuminated manuscripts, notable for the verve and originality of its miniatures. This is the first time it has been the subject of a substantial separate publication, providing comprehensive coverage of its contents and decoration. The manuscript was presented to Isabella by Francisco de Rojas, apparently to mark the occasion of the double marriage of her son and daughter to the children of Maximilian, King of the Romans, and his first wife, Mary of Burgundy. De Rojas had acted for Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand of Aragon, throughout the marriage negotiations, which were concluded in 1495. Isabella had a strong interest in Flemish art and this sumptuous devotional book must have been much to her taste. Breviaries, normally produced for the use of the clergy, are much less common than books of hours. They contain a larger and more varied body of texts, affording their artists a wider range of subject matter and extensive decorative opportunities. In the case of the Isabella Breviary, no effort was spared to produce an illustrative scheme on a grand scale. Two outstanding workshops of the day are represented. The greater part of the manuscript is due to the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook, whose contribution includes a number of unusual Old Testament subjects. Many of the illustrations of saints are by the Master of James IV of Scotland. In addition there are four magnificent miniatures closely related to (and possibly in the hand of) Gerard David.

#outer_postBodyPS { display: none; } #psGradient { display: none; } #psPlaceHolder { display: none; } #psExpand { display: none; } The Breviary of Queen Isabella of Castile is one of the most splendid of Flemish illuminated manuscripts, notable for the verve and originality of its miniatures. This is the first time it has been the subject of a substantial separate publication, providing comprehensive coverage of its contents and decoration. The manuscript was presented to Isabella by Francisco de Rojas, apparently to mark the occasion of the double marriage of her son and daughter to the children of Maximilian, King of the Romans, and his first wife, Mary of Burgundy. De Rojas had acted for Isabella and her husband, King Ferdinand of Aragon, throughout the marriage negotiations, which were concluded in 1495. Isabella had a strong interest in Flemish art and this sumptuous devotional book must have been much to her taste. Breviaries, normally produced for the use of the clergy, are much less common than books of hours. They contain a larger and more varied body of texts, affording their artists a wider range of subject matter and extensive decorative opportunities. In the case of the Isabella Breviary, no effort was spared to produce an illustrative scheme on a grand scale. Two outstanding workshops of the day are represented. The greater part of the manuscript is due to the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook, whose contribution includes a number of unusual Old Testament subjects. Many of the illustrations of saints are by the Master of James IV of Scotland. In addition there are four magnificent miniatures closely related to (and possibly in the hand of) Gerard David.

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

The Lindisfarne Gospels (Illuminated Gift) by Janet Backhouse
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)
The Bedford Hours (Medieval Manuscripts in the... by Janet Backhouse
4.7 out of 5 stars (3)
The Grandes Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry; Bibli... by Marcel Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)

$142.35
Beasts Factual and Fantastic (Medieval Imag... by Elizabeth Morrison
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)

$15.01
The Bible of Illuminated Letters: A Treasury o... by Margaret Morgan
4.8 out of 5 stars (27)

$16.49
The Book of Kells: An Illustrated Introduction... by Bernard Meehan
4.6 out of 5 stars (14)

$13.57

Product Details

Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: British Library (April 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0712302697
ISBN-13: 978-0712302692
Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.7 x 0.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,389,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #92 in Books > Arts & Photography > Other Media > Illuminations

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Janet Backhouse Page

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

There are no customer reviews yet.

Create your own review

Video reviews

Amazon now allows customers to upload product video reviews. Use a webcam or video camera to record and upload reviews to Amazon.

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?

The Hastings Hours (Illuminated Gift) by Janet Backhouse Hardcover
5.0 out of 5 stars (1)

› Explore similar items

Suggested Tags from Similar Products

(What's this?)

Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product).

manuscript illumination(7)

illumination(9)

manuscript(7)

calligraphy(5)

illuminated manuscripts(3)

medieval(4)

costume(3)

crafts(2)

byzantine(3)

illustration(2)

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

.jsOffDisplayBlock { display: block; } .jsOffDisplayInline { display: inline; } .jsOffVisibility { visibility: visible; } .jsOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jsOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jsOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; } .jsOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jsOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayBlock { display: none; } .jqOnDisplayInline { display: none; } .jqOnVisibility { visibility: hidden; } .jqOnDisplayNoneBlock { display: block; } .jqOnDisplayNoneInline { display: inline; }