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…
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It just feels like one of these Sunday mornings. It’s clear and crisp, the colors of the sky outside my studio looking very much like something from a Hiroshige print. Quiet outside. Hardly a rustling through the forest as I made my way to the studio this morning. In my head, I begin to hear those simple quiet notes from the first of the Gymnopédies, that elegant group of quiet and moody music from composer Erik Satie.
Redtree Times 