A magnificently illustrated textbook for the future duke: the dazzlingly told story of the Duchy of Burgundy for the young Philip the Fair

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

Bruges (Belgium) — Ca. 1485–1490

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

Bruges (Belgium) — Ca. 1485–1490

  1. Illuminated primers created for young princes are among the rarest and most coveted medieval manuscripts

  2. This was created for the young Philip I the Fair (1478–1506), who became the Duke of Burgundy and King of Castile

  3. The history of the Duchy of Burgundy described therein mainly consists of pictures and was created between 1485 and 1490

Das Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

A Noble Family Portrait

Wearing a feathered cap, long ermine-lined cloak, and knee-high boots, Maximilian I gives a knight’s sword to his young son, Philip, who is standing next to his mother, Mary of Burgundy, daughter and heir of Charles the Bold. Both Maximilian and Mary have their own beautifully dressed entourages. A small lion sitting in front of a green couch watches from the background where there are windows looking out onto a pleasant cityscape and a corridor leading to an unseen part of the interior.

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Details

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

Yates Thompson MS 32 British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Alternative Titles:
  • Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen
  • La Chronique flamande de Philippe le Beau
  • Chroniques abrégées des Anciens Rois et Ducs de Bourgogne
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
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  1. Short Description
  2. Codicology
Short Description

This dazzling visual history of the Duchy of Burgundy originates ca. 1485–90 and was intended to be a schoolbook for Philip the Fair (1478–1506). The eventual Duke of Burgundy and the first Hapsburg to become a king in Spain, was meant to learn the importance of his family with the aid of this splendid portrait of his forefathers. For better understanding, short text passages, which provided necessary explanations, were added to eleven full-page miniatures and numerous initials both large and small. The decorative and expressive illumination originated from the so-called Master of the Trivial Heads, who assisted the famous Master of Edward IV in a bustling workshop in Bruges.

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

One of the few illuminated children’s books originated in Belgian Bruges ca. 1485–90. The splendidly colorful pictorial history of the Duchy of Burgundy with short text passages originated as a schoolbook for the then seven-year-old Philip the Fair (1478–1506). He was supposed to be the first Hapsburg king in Spain and would rule over the Kingdoms of Castile and León. The vivid and bright pictures of the 30-page manuscript visualized the significance of his family for him at an early age. A portrait of the author of the text, who also probably Philip’s teacher, the chronicler and poet Olivier de la Marche, serves as the prelude for the eleven full-page miniatures and numerous initials both large and small.

Ducal Miniatures

The content of the manuscript is concerned with a time period stretching from the 1st to the 15th century. In doing so, one not only finds ostentatious portraits of legendary rulers like Stephen of Burgundy (1065–1102), but historical figures like Charlemagne, or Mary Magdalene who supposedly baptized the first King of the Burgundians. These images are accompanied by numerous vivid scenes playing out before a backdrop of imposing urban architecture and extensive riverscapes.

A Masterpiece of the Ghent-Bruges School

The wealthy trading cities of Flanders attracted many artists and miniaturists, and highly talented masters were working in Bruges and Ghent by the second half of the 15th century. The Master of the Trivial Heads was engaged as an assistant to the Master of Edward IV in a bustling workshop in Bruges, and was within the circle of this so-called Ghent-Bruges school, which dominated the art scene. He is the responsible party for the marvelously fantastic miniatures of the Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair.

An Ornate Chronicle for Hard Times

Such luminous depictions hardly give one the impression that the dukes of Burgundy were already in a period of decline during the time of their making, and longed to return to the years of splendor they had depicted in manifold ways. Only a century after their ducal dynasty was created, it suddenly came to an end with the death of Charles the Bold in the year 1477.

Codicology
Alternative Titles
Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen
La Chronique flamande de Philippe le Beau
Chroniques abrégées des Anciens Rois et Ducs de Bourgogne
Size / Format
30 pages / 27.0 × 17.0 cm
Date
Ca. 1485–1490
Style
Gothic
Language
French
Script
Gothic Cursive
Illustrations
11 full-page miniatures and numerous initials both large and small
Content
Pictorial History of the Duchy of Burgundy with rather little text because it was intended for the instruction of Philip the Fair as a child
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Das Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair

Charles the Bold and his Court

Charles the Bold dreamed of transforming the duchy of Burgundy into a kingdom and pursued an aggressive foreign policy to unite his lands into a continuous territorial unit. He thus triggered the Burgundian Wars, which resulted in his death at the Battle of Nancy and the subsequent division of his realm between France and the Hapsburg Empire.
The court of the dukes of Burgundy was arguably the grandest and most sophisticated in late medieval Europe with a manuscript culture that was second to none. This miniature page shows the richly dressed Burgundian nobility with Charles enthroned and holding a scepter. Two musicians are shown at the bottom of the page playing for the court while magnificent warhorses are shown in the street outside.

1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair“

Das Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen Facsimile

Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
Flemish Chronicle of Philip the Fair – Yates Thompson MS 32 – British Library (London, United Kingdom)
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Das Flämische Bilderchronik Philipps des Schönen Facsimile

1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size)
Publisher
Quaternio Verlag Luzern – Lucerne, 2015
Limited Edition
680 copies
Binding
Bound in dark pink velvet with eight cornerpieces of filigreed brass, two medallions, and three gilded labels on the spine Acrylic presentational case
Commentary
1 volume by Joanna Fronska, Hanno Wijsman and Graeme Small
Languages: German, French, English
More Information
In addition to the large, masterful miniatures with luminous colors and burnished gold, the fact that this book is one of the few that was made specifically for a child adds to ist rarity and value.
Price Category: €€ (1,000€ - 3,000€)
Edition available
Price: Login here!
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