Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu

Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu

The gorgeous, heart-shaped hymnbook once belonging to the French nobleman Jean de Montchenu is counted among the most exciting and precious manuscripts to be created in the Middle Ages. The work contains 44 polyphonic chants in French and Italian, which were composed by the most famous musicians of the Middle Ages – Guilliaume Dufay, Johannes Ockeghem, and Antoine Busnois inter alia. The precious codex attained worldwide fame particularly because of its unusual shape. The closed book takes the form of a heart, which splits into two hearts when opened. Consistent with its design, the text of the work’s lyrics deal with love, in particular the love affairs of the French court during the lifetime of its patron. The richly designed book pages contain colorful illuminations, gilded initials, and lavish bordures with fantastic animal and plant patterns.

Love at the French Court

The canon Jean de Montchenu was a nobleman in 15th century France. There is very little reliable information concerning the cleric’s life today. It is known, however, that he was bishop of the parishes of Agen and Vivier in 1477 and 1478, respectively. Montchenu had the reputation of being an advocate of romantic love between people at the French royal court. Consistent with his personality, the nobleman commissioned his heart-shaped hymnbook with medieval French and Italian love songs between 1460 and 1477. It was written and charmingly illuminated by unbelievably talented, but nonetheless unknown artists. From its patron Montchenu, the Chansonnier passed through various hands before coming into the possession of the Rothschild family **, more precisely, the private library of the youngest son of **James de Rothschild, Henri. In a ceremonial act, the masterful work was presented to the French National Library by Henri de Rothschild on March 22nd, 1933.

A Unique Design Concept

The Chansonnier opens up like a butterfly consisting of two interconnected hearts. Both of the hearts represent two loving people who send messages of love to one another with the help of the songs contained in the book. The work is the only medieval manuscript worldwide to boast such a well thought out design concept. The word “heart” was replaced with a pictogram in the lyrics. It is not only the outer form of the songbook that makes it a unique masterpiece, but also its unbelievably rich illumination. It is undoubtedly counted among the most beautiful and elaborate manuscripts produced during the Middle Ages.

Excellent Illustration

The manuscript, furnished all over with colorful and golden embellishments, contains two breathtaking, full-page miniatures. The first image shows Cupid, the angel of love, and a young woman whose breast bears one of the angel’s arrows. The goddess Fortuna is found alongside Cupid and is depicted spinning her wheel of fortune. The other miniature shows the same young woman, this time depicted arm in arm with her sweetheart. Both images are framed by fantastic bordure patterns from all kinds of flowers and plants, birds, dogs, cats, and other creatures. These charming depictions surround practically every page of the parchment manuscript. The manuscript was also generously furnished with letters made of noble gold leaf.