Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy

The Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy is a precious manuscript that was written and illuminated by the famous French book master Jean Bapteur. The precious, gorgeously designed codex contains 97 miniatures altogether, which are ordered according to a well-thought system. Nearly every page of the document is magnificently illuminated. The codex originated at the behest of the Dukes of Savoy, in particular Duke Amadeus VIII has been associated with this valuable Apocalypse manuscript.

A Turbulent History

Amadeus VIII, the first Duke of Savoy, commissioned the manuscript in the year 1428. He entrusted his court painter Jean Bapteur with its design. Beginning in 1433, Bapteur was supported by the no-less-talented illuminator Peronet Lamy. This prolonged design period makes it clear what outstanding quality the precious book treasure possesses. 47 pages of the document are considered to be the work of Bapteur. The remaining pictures he designed in collaboration with Peronet Lamy, a few of them originate wholly from Lamy’s pen. In the year 1434, Duke Amadeus withdrew to the Château de Ripaille near Thonon-les-Bains. He took the yet-incomplete Apocalypse with him, in order to read it aloud to himself. In 1468 his great-grandson Charles I had the work completed by his court painter Jean Colombe. This was at the very same time that he was occupied with the legendary and world famous book treasure known as the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry. Colombe appended the Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy with 23 missing pictures and took special care to adhere to the design system of its originator, Bapteur.

Traditional Work

The work is an abridged version of the Book of Revelation, written in black ink and accompanied by a traditional commentary by the monk Berengaudus. Red characters highlight important text elements. The special approach to the biblical text with a clarifying commentary was widespread in the spiritual literature of medieval France. The text and also the illustration of the masterpiece are strongly oriented on similar works from England. The primary source of inspiration was probably the Apocalypse of Lambeth Palace.

A Highpoint of Medieval Book Art

The manuscript contains 104 pages altogether. The pages are all designed according to a sophisticated system. The upper part of a page always contains a miniature, which illustrate the text under the image. It contains 97 miniatures, only the last pages of the work were not illustrated. The vignettes of the miniatures typically exhibit a depiction of John the Evangelist. This depiction corresponds generally with the primary scene of the respective illustration. Enchanting and diverse motifs adorn the page margins, one sees animal patterns, plant tendrils, and other playful patterns.