Created as a magnificent gift: one of the Florentine Renaissance's last books of hours
Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici
Florence (Italy) — After 1532

Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici
Florence (Italy) — After 1532
This Florentine masterpiece from the 1530’s represents a last highpoint of Italian Renaissance illumination
Likely a gift from Alessandro de’ Medici to his wife Margaret, illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V (1500–58)
The impressive visual adornment came from the hand of Francesco Boccardi, son of Giovanni Boccardi (d. 1542)
Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici
- Stundenbuch der Margarete von Österreich und Alessandro de' Medici
Short Description
The so-called Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici, originated in Florence in the 1530’s and presents itself as a last highpoint of Italian Renaissance illumination. The manuscript was probably a gift from Alessandro de’ Medici to his wife, Margaret of Parma. The splendidly artistic design is a sign of the grandiose art of Francesco Boccardi.
Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici
Alessandro de’ Medici (1510–1537), named Il Moro, was one of the most controversial Florentine rulers from the House of Medici. Named Duke of Florence by the Holy Roman Emperor in 1532, Alessandro was murdered by a cousin just five years later. Shortly before that in 1536, he married the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V, Margaret of Parma. The precious book of hours, which is stored today in the Biblioteca dell'Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei e Corsiniana in Rome as the Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici, was also probably in the possession of his wife.
The Emperor’s Daughter
Margaret of Austria (1522–1586), also known as Margaret of Parma, was only married to the sovereign of Florence for a short time. After Alessandro’s shocking death, the illegitimate daughter of Emperor Charles V was already married a year later to Ottavio Farnese and also exercised political influence under her brother Philip II as governor of the Habsburg Netherlands.
A Gem from the Workshop of Boccardi
The luxurious manuscript originated at the behest of Alessandro de’ Medici. A post–1532 date of origin is confirmed by a detail in its décor: the portrait of Alessandro in the manuscript identifies him as “dux” and therefore must have been created after he was named Duke of Florence in 1532. The impressive visual adornment came from the hand of Francesco Boccardi. He was active between 1509 and 1547 and was the son of Giovanni Boccardi, a famous miniaturist known as Boccardino in Florence under Lorenzo the Magnificent ca. 1500.
A Highpoint of Florentine Illumination
Francesco Boccardi furnished the book of hours with a few full- and even double-page miniatures with a clear connection to the content, which are furthermore designed in an extremely innovative way. Numerous smaller miniatures and countless splendid initials further this impressive pictorial decoration. Lavishly-designed bordures and trim are filled with illusionistic flowers, fruits, small animals like butterflies and birds, gemstones, heraldic motifs with a few small depictions of rulers found among them, and the heraldic badge of the Medici appears again and again. As one of the last books of hours of the Florentine Renaissance to be so splendidly designed overall, the manuscript is wonderfully rounded out with shimmering gold.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Stundenbuch der Margarete von Österreich und Alessandro de' Medici
- Origin
- Florence (Italy)
- Date
- After 1532
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 7 full-page miniatures, 20 illuminated initials decorated with gold paste, gold powder and gold leaf, and more than 200 initials on painted background
- Artist / School
- Francesco Boccardi
- Previous Owners
- Margaret of Austria
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Book of Hours of Margaret of Austria and Alessandro de' Medici“
Il Libro d'ore di Margherita d'Austria e Alessandro de' Medici
- Publisher
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani – Rome, 2007
- Limited Edition
- 750 copies
- Binding
- Green velvet with silver medallion and clasps
- Commentary
-
1 volume (220 pages)
- More Information
- Reproduction of the entire original document as detailed as possible (scope, format, colors). The binding may not correspond to the original or current document binding.
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