Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême – CM Editores – Res. 51 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)

France — Beginning of the 16th century

Commissioned by Queen Claude and King François I of France: a shimmering golden masterpiece of French illumination with large and impressive miniatures

  1. Commissioned by the French Queen Claude de France (1499–1524) and her husband King Francis I (1494–1547)

  2. Contains the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but resembles a book of hours because of its size and iconography

  3. No less than 145 miniatures, often full-page and glittering with gold, adorn this treasure of the National Library of Spain

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

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  1. Description
  2. Detail Picture
  3. Single Page
  4. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

King Francis I of France (1494–1547) and Queen Consort Claude de France (1499–1524) are the patrons of this true treasure of early 16th century French illumination. Preserved today in the Spanish National Library in Madrid, the Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême presents a wonderful display of 18 full-page miniatures and over 125 smaller figural representations.

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

Multi-figure scenes in beautiful landscapes and complexly designed rooms, high-quality painting at the highest level, and a wide range of topics, all embedded in elaborate and gold-plated borders in the style of the time – the so-called Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême, offers everything that one could expect from an outstanding manuscript of the early 16th century!

Links to the French Royal Family

Today, the manuscript is known as the Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême. There were two noblemen with this name: Charles d'Orléans (1459–1496), who became Count of Angoulême in 1467, and Charles de Valois-Angoulême, Duc d'Orléans (1522–1545). The latter was the grandson of the former as well as the youngest son of King Francis I of France (1491–1547) and Claude de France (1499–1524), who probably commissioned the manuscript for her son. The coat of arms of the French royal family, which consists of three lilies below a crown, appears repeatedly in the lavish and sumptuous decorative frames of the manuscript – more than adequate for a royal couple. By all accounts, Charles was the most handsome and gregarious of the royal brothers, and the King’s favorite. Unfortunately he died at age 23, but this may have been for the best as Charles’ popularity could have resulted in a dynastic struggle with his older brother Henry, the Dauphin.

The Impressive Miniature Program

Magnificent bordures with the most varied Renaissance ornaments on luminous golden backgrounds frame impressive miniatures of the various biblical stories. In addition to the Life of Christ, the Passion, and numerous scenes related to Mary, the most important Christian festivals, such as Pentecost or All Saints Day, are also presented. In addition, a Tree of Jesse is presented among the 18 full-page miniatures and a depiction of the Twelve Apostles, and numerous other smaller Bible scenes and hagiographic depictions append the 140+ illustrations – an extraordinarily successful miniature program for a luxurious devotional manuscript!

From France to Spain

Since at least the 18th century, this splendid testimonial to French illumination from the early 16th century – in typically Flemish style – has resided in Spain. Cardinal Francisco Javier Zelada y Rodríguez was one of its owners over time and it was probably he who brought the manuscript to the Cathedral of Toledo.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
El Evangeliario del Duque de Orleans - Angulema
Prayer Book of Charles of Angoulême
Evangeliario de Carlos de Angulema
Evangeliario de París, para uso de Carlos, Duque de Angulema
Gebetbuch von Charles d'Angoulême
Evangeliar des Charles d’Orléans, Graf von Angoulême
Size / Format
336 pages / 23.0 × 16.0 cm
Origin
France
Date
Beginning of the 16th century
Language
Illustrations
145 miniatures
Content
The Four Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Patron
Queen Claude de France (1499–15424) and King Francis I of France (1494–1547)
Artist / School
Previous Owners
Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême (1459–96)

Available facsimile editions:
Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême – CM Editores – Res. 51 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
CM Editores – Salamanca, 2012
Limited Edition: 375 copies
Detail Picture

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

John the Baptist Prepares the Way

Depicted bearded, unshod, and dressed in an animal skin, John the Baptist is shown preaching in the wilderness to wealthy Judeans and foretelling the coming of Jesus, who is shown approaching in the distance and is identifiable only by his golden halo: “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Matt. 3:11)

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême – CM Editores – Res. 51 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Single Page

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême

ECCE HOMO

“Behold the man”, this is the phrase used by Pontius Pilate when he presents Jesus Christ to the crowd, which condemns him to be crucified. In the background we see a scene within a scene: Christ is being scourged while tied to a post. The primary scene shows Christ bound, bleeding from multiple wounds, and crowned with thorns.

Set within an elegant gold leaf frame, this is an exemplary specimen of French Renaissance illumination. The disdain and mockery of the richly dressed crowd is obvious from their masterfully depicted faces. Deep, rich primary colors are contrasted by the lavish use of gold leaf, which highlights everything from the garments of the mob to Christ’s divine halo, to the initials in the perfectly-executed text.

Gospel Book of Charles d'Orléans, Count of Angoulême – CM Editores – Res. 51 – Biblioteca Nacional de España (Madrid, Spain)
Facsimile Editions

#1 El Evangeliario del Duque de Orleans - Angulema

CM Editores – Salamanca, 2012

Publisher: CM Editores – Salamanca, 2012
Limited Edition: 375 copies
Binding: Handmade in Corinthian goatskin, engraved in gold. Protected by a nearly identically-designed leather clamshell case.
Commentary: 1 volume by Josefina Planas
Language: Spanish
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) 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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