One of the great pleasures in being fairly ignorant is the thrill that comes from stumbling across something that is absolutely spectacular without any knowledge of its existence beforehand. Of course, the flip side of this experience is the depressing realization that sets in when you realize how little you really know. I know this from experience.
The other day, while searching for images of medieval snow scenes for the previous post, I also came across a beautiful image taken from a 15th century illuminated manuscript called the Tres Riches Heures. It was a gorgeous winter scene, very Dutch looking, with a astronomical chart with beautiful blue lapis bands arching across the top of the page. I was immediately taken in by the image.
Doing some quick research I discovered that this image was but one of over 130 painted images in the Tres Riches Heures, many of which were done by a trio of Dutch siblings, the Limbourg Brothers, between 1412 and 1416 for the French Duke du Berry. The Tres Riches Heures is a book of hours which consists of prayers and devotional exercises along with timetables for specific prayers and calendars for feast days and other days of note in the liturgical year, along with some customized additions. This particular book of hours was the most spectacular ever produced.
Of course, something this incredible never comes easily. The Limbourg Brothers, unfortunately, all died within the year of 1416, most likely from the plague, leaving the Tres Riches Heures incomplete. It was worked on for many years by an unknown intermediate painter, most likely a court painter for French king Charles VII, who had attained the unfinished group work in the years after the Limbourgs died. Finally, between 1485 and 1490, the work was completed by artist Jean Colombe.
Today, this considered arguably the most valuable book in the world– a book filled with 130 beautiful Dutch paintings, a book that took nearly eighty years to complete.
As I say, I was thrilled to come across it, having no prior knowledge of it or the magnificent work of the Limbourg Brothers or Jean Colombe. But then I was a bit taken aback by the realization that I had such a gap in my knowledge, especially of a work of such grandeur. But, that’s the way it goes. You trudge forward, a blind squirrel periodically stumbling across a nut.
Now I know…
Redtree Times 
I don’t remember exactly when I learned about Picasso’s Guernica. But I do remember seeing it for the first time back in the day. I went to visit MOMA, the Museum of Modern Art in NY, to see what I might see. And then I remember almost gasping, “I didn’t know THAT was here.” And then, I stood there before it for a half hour or more “reading” it left to right, right to left, up and down. As I mentioned that was back in the day, because now it is in Spain.
There are facimile editions of the Tres Riche Heures — I’ve got one. Even though it’s only a facimile, I find myself washing my hands first before I take it up to look at. There is so much cultural richness in the world that you needn’t feel taken aback when you come across something you had no idea existed. When you think about it, being able to discover that there’s a gap in your knowledge means you’ve discovered something that pulls you up short and makes you go, “Whoa –!” and then, “Wow!” To me that’s a good day.
Thanks for those kind words. Hope you have a peaceful and happy holiday.
On Mon, Dec 23, 2013 at 5:34 PM, Redtree Times
Your first sentence reminded me of the great e.e.cummings line:
all ignorance toboggans into know
and trudges up to ignorance again
I’ve always thought of education as a spiral, rather that a unidirectional slog. We learn something, then circle back – perhaps years later – and learn more.
I just learned a good bit more about this treasure, which came into my life about 1962 or 1963. I had an aunt who lived on West 16th in New York, and she always was sending me city treasures. She sent me a calendar/day book from the Metropolitan Museum of Art that contained paintings from the Tres Riches Heures. I kept it for years, until it just disappeared somewhere. I used to sit for hours, pouring over the details in the paintings. Seeing them again is a wonderful reminder of those magical times.
Your post was a wonderful gift!
Merry Christmas to you, Linda!
[…] favorites in Van Gogh and Brueghel and one of the Limbourg Brothers‘ gorgeous plate from Les Tres Heures , one of my favorites from the calendar is shown at the bottom, titled O Paraño. It is […]
[…] The title is derived from the name given to devotional books from the Middle Ages that lay out the year in a calendar that included both sacred and pastoral imagery, prayers and mass readings for feast days, among other devotion related items. I have written about some of these devotionals from the Middle Ages here in the past, including the beautifully illustrated edition from the Limbourg Brothers. […]