A colorful and lavishly gilded masterpiece of Spanish illumination for one of the most influential families of the Spanish nobility
Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas
Spain — 15th century

Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas
Spain — 15th century
The Marquis de Dos Aguas were among the most important families of the Spanish aristocracy
A Spanish masterpiece with bright ornamental borders and large initials lavishly embellished with gold
Almost every page of the manuscipt features such frames with luminous colors
Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas
- Libro de Horas del Marqués de Dos Aguas
- Stundenbuch des Marqués de Dos Aguas
- Livre d’Heures du Marquis de Dos Aguas
- Libro d'Ore del Marchese di Dos Aguas
- Livro de Horas do Marquês de Dos Águas
Short Description
The Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas amazes with its unbelievably rich decorations with bright ornamental borders. This and the various small and large initials are lavishly adorned with gold. This work originated at the end of the 15th century at the behest of the Marqués de Dos Aguas in Valencia, and as such the manuscript represents an important testimony for the manuscript art of Spain.
Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas
The *Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas * amazes with its unbelievably rich decorations with bright ornamental borders. This and the various small and large initials are lavishly adorned with gold. This work originated at the end of the 15th century at the behest of the Marqués de Dos Aguas in Valencia, and as such the manuscript represents an important testimony for the manuscript art of Spain.
Grand Manuscript for a Spanish Patron
The family of the Marqués de Dos Aguas was an important part of the aristocracy of Valencia for many centuries. Even today, one can marvel at the family palace in the modern Spanish metropolis. The family members emerged time and time again as great patrons of the arts. One Marqués de Dos Aguas commissioned this gorgeous book of hours. The artfully equipped manuscript would have served as a private devotional book. Across the 326 pages, the modern beholder can immerse oneself into a world of countless fine ornamentations that delicately adorn the Christian text. In addition, the lavish splendor of the scrolls, blossoms, and other forms of ornamentation and illustration are richly embellished with gold leaf.
Great Book Art of the 15th Century
The unknown artist, who concerned themselves with the grand, artistic embroidery of the script, is known today as the Master of the Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas. The whole-page miniature of the Annunciation, in its impressive ambiance, harkens to the great Flemish art that dominated during this time. In doing so, the Book of Hours of the Marques de Dos Aguas is related to the Book of Hours of Dona Violante, which originated in Spain and Bruges ca. 1480.
A True Treasure for Book Enthusiasts
One page of the script is adorned with the coat of arms of the first owner. The countless extensive bordures on nearly every page are the true special feature of this book of hours. Very broadly invested and luxuriously filled with ornaments, the frames of the text practically put them in the shadows. Like a carpet, the floral elements appear alienated from the most playful forms, which are then placed in the brightest colors under the rich application of gold on the parchment paper. Aside from that, the text of small and large initials pervades, while the writing highlights importance places in gold. The very good condition of the manuscript, which today is preserved in the Biblioteca Bartolomé March in Palma de Mallorca, allows the wealth of color in the illustrations to be strikingly comprehensible today. This treasure of 15th century Spanish book art is protected by a wooden binding upholstered with silk.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Libro de Horas del Marqués de Dos Aguas
Stundenbuch des Marqués de Dos Aguas
Livre d’Heures du Marquis de Dos Aguas
Libro d'Ore del Marchese di Dos Aguas
Livro de Horas do Marquês de Dos Águas - Size / Format
- 362 pages / 20.0 x 14.2 cm
- Origin
- Spain
- Date
- 15th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- All 362 pages with gold leaf
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Book of Hours of the Marqués de Dos Aguas“
Libro de Horas del Marqués de Dos Aguas
- Publisher
- Patrimonio Ediciones – Valencia
- Limited Edition
- 999 copies
- Binding
- Silk over wooden boards
- Commentary
-
1 volume
Language: Spanish - 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.
Matching Works
Black Hours
Radiant miniatures, glowing borders and gold initials on black colored parchment: one of only seven black manuscripts that have survived to this day
Experience MorePrayers of Repentance by Albrecht Glockendon for John II of Palatinate-Simmern
A masterpiece by Albrecht Glockendon: the story of King David and Bathsheba as highlights of late book illumination
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Books of Hours
What is a book of hours? A prayer book for personal use based upon the “offices” or official prayers that were to be said...Experience moreRenaissance
What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and...Experience more15th Century
Come and explore an age of stark contrasts as Europe comes back from the brink: calamities like the Fall of...Experience morePrayer Books
Interested in a personal glimpse into the personality of a famous medieval figure? Prayer books were small codices...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo