 | Books of Hours Oct 27, 2007 |
| I'm an art student, and we often study books of hours, but it's always just slides, so we don't get to hold an example. This little book is a wonderful example of the actual books of hours from this time period. It really gives you an appreciation for the craftsmanship of the artists; the intricate detail is so delicate and tiny, and it's clearly printed in this book. I highly recommend it! |
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| The luminous colors of the Dark Ages. Jul 9, 2007 |
In this tiny book are brought together a limited choice of the most exquisite medieval miniatures from 1230 ( artist William de Brailes ) until 1522. Other important artists are Jan Van Eyck, Jean Fouquet, and Simon Bening.
Of course in large manuscripts most of the illuminations could hardly be called miniatures but were full paintings, so to speak, with their own set of aesthetic rules. The format of the Books of Hours are ideal to study miniatures. You will find in this little book ( approximate the same size as the miniatures included ) an amazing collection of breathtaking miniatures with very vivid and beautiful colors. It's eye candy, I agree, but that made the Books of Hours popular in the Middle Ages. Let's face it, the success of the Catholic Church in the Middle Ages depended - for a substantial part - upon the cultural wealth that was displayed in churches and cathedrals, in the Vatican and its sumptuous Library, and in the Books of hours with their initials decorated with burnished gold.
Indeed, you could say that the luminous colors of the miniatures in this collection are making the Dark Ages less dark. |
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 | Beautiful book Jan 9, 2007 |
| Lovely tiny book with absolutely gorgeous illustrations from real medieval books of hours, with jewel tones and lovely compositions. The binding should be different to allow it to more easily open fully. |
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| Small yet Elegantly Detailed Nov 10, 2006 |
| Although this is literally a miniature publication from Phaidon, it truly encompasses the character of the Book of Hours. Historically, these were popular items, especially among pious woman to "show off" their devotion to God. The illustrations are just beautiful and so intricate. This is a true gem. A compact way to view illuminated manuscript. |
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| Small gem of illumination plates Aug 20, 2000 |
| A very small book containing 85 color plates of miniatures culled from various books of hours. The plates are reproduced at or near their original size, giving an idea of just how truly small most of these pictures actually are. The plates come from the best manuscripts owned by several museums. Most of the art is Franco-Flemish from 1475-1525, but there are a few earlier works and/or Italian works represented, as well. There is very little text. This book is intended, I believe, to provide just enough information to pique the curious. The art is splendid, though, and a better, more portable visual reference could not be found. I liked this book so much that I bought two copies; one to use as a reference when painting, and another to just enjoy perusing. |
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