A gem of the Italian Renaissance: at just 6.6 x 5 cm, one of the smallest illuminated books of hours ever created
Dono d'Amore
Florence (Italy) — Last quarter of the 15th century

Dono d'Amore
Florence (Italy) — Last quarter of the 15th century
This is an opulent wedding present celebrating the union of two prominent Florentine families
It is an exquisite masterpiece of the Italian Renaissance by the famous Monte di Giovanni del Fora (ca. 1448 - ca. 1533)
This splendor is contained in one of the smallest books of hours to survive today, just 6.6 x 5 cm
Dono d'Amore
- Geschenk der Liebe
Short Description
A precious and extraordinary wedding present: the book of hours belonging to Niccola di Andrea di Niccola Capponi and his wife Antonia di Battista di Luigi Ridolfi. The names of two significant Florentine families are associated with this gem of illumination. Furthermore, as an exquisite masterpiece by the famous Monte di Giovanni del Fora, it is also and especially enchanting due to its artful furnishings: light and airy miniatures, marvelous initials and lavish tendril bordures completely in the style of the Italian Renaissance!
Dono d'Amore
A precious and extraordinary wedding present: the book of hours belonging to Niccola di Andrea di Niccola Capponi and his wife Antonia di Battista di Luigi Ridolfi. The names of two significant Florentine families are associated with this gem of illumination. Furthermore, as an exquisite masterpiece by the famous Monte di Giovanni del Fora, it is also and especially enchanting due to its artful furnishings: light and airy miniatures, marvelous initials and lavish tendril bordures completely in the style of the Italian Renaissance!
A Sumptuously Furnished Treasure
Measuring an unbelievable 6.6 x 5 cm, this precious manuscript is one of the smallest books of hours to survive to today. Nevertheless, its contents possess surprisingly lavish illumination. The 464 pages of the manuscript are embellished all over with grandiose painting. Miniatures of biblical tales, with scenes from the childhood of Jesus and the life of the Virgin Mary from the Annunciation and birth up to the events of the Passion illustrating the pages of the manuscript. Additionally, one finds wonderful initials and broad, ornamental bordures with stylized leafy tendrils on the pages of this gem of illumination.
Evidence of the Capponi-Ridolfi Union
This atmospheric and colorful illumination is the work of the greatest master illuminator in Florence at that time: Monte di Giovanni del Fora. Monte di Giovanni made this masterpiece of Florentine illumination in the last quarter of the 15th century at the behest of two significant Florentine families of the cinquecento: Capponi and Ridolfi. The reason for it was the marriage of Niccola di Andrea di Niccola Capponi and Antonia di Battista di Luigi Ridolfi in the year 1500. As evidence of this union, the precious miniature book of hours is also known as the Libro d’ore Capponi-Ridolfi. With its richness and elegance, it transmits the splendor of the late 15th century to today!
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Geschenk der Liebe
- Size / Format
- 464 pages / 6.6 x 5.0 cm
- Origin
- Florence (Italy)
- Date
- Last quarter of the 15th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Previous Owners
- Niccola di Andrea di Niccola Capponi and Antonia di Battista di Luigi Ridolfi
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Dono d'Amore“
Dono d'Amore
- Publisher
- Vallecchi – Florence, 2007
- Limited Edition
- 483 copies
- Binding
- Entirely bound and sewn by hand and lined in velvet like the original while the cut of the pages has gilt embossing, following the original. It comes in an elegant case with tooled silver
- Commentary
-
1 volume by Giovanna Lazzi
- More Information
- In special parchment paper, on which hot tooled gold has been applied, using the reverse procedure compared to typographical printing to give it all of the worn and vibrant naturalness of the backgrounds and the very subtle design of the highlights.
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