A Book Fit for a King
The richness of this codex's pages confirms that it was made for a great king, Francis I, considered the most important monarch of the French Renaissance. His reign knew an important development of the Arts and Letters.
The artist in charge of this ambitious project made very clear who was the recipient of his work. Proof of this is the portrait of the king, with the author kneeling and presenting him with the book. In the same miniature there is an inscription in golden letter. Another one appears in the second page and a third can be found at the end of the book.
In the miniatures it is often found the fleur-de-lis, as well as the coat of arms and the emblem of the monarch: a salamander in a brazier.
Because of the complexity and richness of its pages, the book could not be completed during the reign of Francis I, and saw the light in 1548, under king Henry II.
The Life of the Virgin
The life of the Virgin Mary is depicted in its entirety, from her birth to her death. The miniatures reflect the rules of the epoch. The real magnificence of this work is once again evident in the paintings of the curtains, the tablecloths, the canopies, making the miniatures depicting the Virgin resemble authentic palace scenes.
In each of the 46 pages of this manuscript it is possible to see that they were made for a king who loved art and beauty.
Binding description
Binding
Cow leather printed in gold.
We have 1 facsimile edition of the manuscript "Rouen Life of the Virgin": La Vida de la Virgen María facsimile edition, published by Orbis Mediaevalis, 2012
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