Hours of Pierre de Rohan-Gié

Over the course of his life, Pierre de Rohan (1451-1513), also known as Maréchal de Gié, became one of the most powerful figures in the Kingdom of France. During his military and political career, he succeeded in expanding his possessions and exerted considerable influence as Marshal of France, diplomat and advisor to the Kings Louis XI, Charles VIII and Louis XII. He marked the beginning of the Rohan family's rise to the first ranks of the French nobility. Around 1500, Pierre de Rohan-Gié commissioned the beautiful Book of Hours, which is now kept in the Czech National Library under the shelfmark VI.D.25. Probably created in the region around Rouen, the manuscript combines the usual pious prayers with the finest art that marks the threshold between the Gothic and Renaissance periods. Wonderful full-page miniatures of biblical scenes are embedded in a dense web of magnificent borders, making the manuscript a true gem of French book art.