A cardinal's gift to Anna Sforza: 146 miniatures from the Milanese school in a lovely prayer book
Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este
Milan (Italy) — End of the 15th century–start of the 16th century

Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este
Milan (Italy) — End of the 15th century–start of the 16th century
Cardinal Ippolito d’Este (1479–1520) commissioned Francesco Binaso with the creation of this masterpiece
It is a gorgeous testimonial to Milanese illumination ca. 1500 with large miniatures and 146 initials
Various female figures point to Anna Sforza (1476–97) as the possible recipient of the splendid prayer book
Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este
- Officium Beate Marie Virginis del Cardinale Ippolito I d’Este
- Officium beatae mariae virginis von Kardinal Ippolito d'Este
Short Description
The precious Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este presents itself as a gorgeous testimonial to Milanese illumination ca. 1500. The history of the manuscript is closely associated with the tragic life of Anna Sforza, the first wife of Ippolito’s brother Alfonso d’Este. 12 large-format miniatures and countless fantastic historiated initials adorn the private prayer book, which wonderfully presents the artistry of the Milanese court painter Francesco Binaso in the Este cardinal’s commission.
Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este
The precious Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este presents itself as a gorgeous testimonial to Milanese illumination ca. 1500. The history of the manuscript is closely associated with the tragic life of Anna Sforza, the first wife of Ippolito’s brother Alfonso d’Este. 12 large-format miniatures and countless fantastic historiated initials adorn the private prayer book, which wonderfully presents the artistry of the Milanese court painter Francesco Binaso in the Este cardinal’s commission.
A Manuscript for the Cardinal…
The so-called Hours of Ippolito d’Este originated from a commission by a cardinal of the same name ca. 1500 in Milan. Ippolito d’Este (1479–1520) came from the powerful ducal family of Este in Ferrara and was already a cardinal in his childhood and eventually became archbishop of Milan. Ippolito commissioned the miniaturist Francesco Binaso, who was active at the Sforza court in Milan at the end of the Quattrocento and beginning of the Cinquecento, with the fabrication of this costly prayer book.
Overwhelming Visual Adornment
Francesco Binaso splendidly decorated the Officium as a private devotional book and thereby stayed true to the traditions of the Italian Renaissance. Twelve large-format miniatures illustrate scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary and various female saints. The women are depicted with long, gorgeous hair and correspond to the all-around ideal of beauty at the time. The content of the texts is visually presented before the eyes of the beholder in the midst of gorgeous landscapes and impressive architectural backdrops. The manuscript is completed by 146 gorgeous historiated initials. Overall, they are richly ornamented, elegantly and colorfully designed. Artful tendrils and fantastic décor surround the initials.
...or for a Woman?
The focus of the miniatures on female saints allows one to discern a connection of the manuscript with a woman. The Officium presumably found its way into the possession of Anna Sforza (1476–1497) – as a present? Anna was the daughter of Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan. She was married to Alfonso I d’Este in 1491, the future Duke of Ferrara and brother of Cardinal Ippolito. This union had already been agreed upon in the year after Anna’s birth. Nonetheless, the two experienced an unhappy marriage, Anna was first able to get pregnant after 6 years and finally died in childbirth. The manuscript is reminiscent of the woman and her eventful, but short life and simultaneously presents itself as a gorgeous artwork of Italian illumination ca. 1500.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Officium Beate Marie Virginis del Cardinale Ippolito I d’Este
Officium beatae mariae virginis von Kardinal Ippolito d'Este - Size / Format
- 278 pages / 24.0 x 14.0 cm
- Origin
- Milan (Italy)
- Date
- End of the 15th century–start of the 16th century
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 12 large-format miniatures and 146 decorated initials
1 available facsimile edition(s) of „Officium beatae mariae virginis of Cardinal Ippolito d'Este“
Officium Beate Marie Virginis di Anna Sforza
- Publisher
- Imago – Castel Guelfo
- Limited Edition
- 300 copies
- Binding
- Hand-made binding. Grained leather naturally tanned and hand-sewn on ropes. Cutting with gold gilding.
- Commentary
-
1 volume
Language: Italian - More Information
- 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.
Matching Works
Isabella Breviary
She sent Christopher Columbus exploring: one of the most beautiful and – with 1,000 pages – most extensive Flemish manuscripts for the Queen of Spain
Experience MoreOfficium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria
For the Archduchess of Austria: a masterpiece from the circle of Jean Bourdichon as a companion for her wedding to the Duke of Ferrara
Experience MoreMatching Background Articles
Books of Hours
What is a book of hours? A prayer book for personal use based upon the “offices” or official prayers that were to be said...Experience moreRenaissance
What does the word “Renaissance” bring to mind for you? Art, science, and culture of course! It was a "rebirth" and...Experience more15th Century
Come and explore an age of stark contrasts as Europe comes back from the brink: calamities like the Fall of...Experience morePrayer Books
Interested in a personal glimpse into the personality of a famous medieval figure? Prayer books were small codices...Experience more
- Treatises / Secular Books
- Apocalypses / Beatus
- Astronomy / Astrology
- Bestiaries
- Bibles / Gospels
- Chronicles / History / Law
- Geography / Maps
- Saints' Lives
- Islam / Oriental
- Judaism / Hebrew
- Single Leaf Collections
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Literature / Poetry
- Liturgical Manuscripts
- Medicine / Botany / Alchemy
- Music
- Mythology / Prophecies
- Psalters
- Other Religious Books
- Games / Hunting
- Private Devotion Books
- Other Genres
- Aboca Museum
- Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt (ADEVA)
- Aldo Ausilio Editore - Bottega d’Erasmo
- Alecto Historical Editions
- Ars Magna
- ArtCodex
- AyN Ediciones
- Bärenreiter-Verlag
- Belser Verlag
- Belser Verlag / WK Wertkontor
- Bernardinum Wydawnictwo
- BiblioGemma
- Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana (Vaticanstadt, Vaticanstadt)
- Bibliotheca Palatina Faksimile Verlag
- Bibliotheca Rara
- CAPSA, Ars Scriptoria
- Circulo Cientifico
- Club Bibliófilo Versol
- CM Editores
- Collezione Apocrifa Da Vinci
- Comissão Nacional para as Comemorações dos Descobrimentos Portugueses
- Coron Verlag
- De Agostini/UTET
- DIAMM
- E. Schreiber Graphische Kunstanstalten
- Ediciones Boreal
- Ediciones Grial
- Edilan
- Editalia
- Edition Leipzig
- Edition Libri Illustri
- Editiones Reales Sitios S. L.
- Editions Medicina Rara
- Editorial Mintzoa
- Egeria, S.L.
- Extraordinary Editions
- Facsimile Editions Ltd.
- Facsimilia Art & Edition Ebert KG
- Faksimile Verlag
- Franco Cosimo Panini Editore
- Fundación Hullera Vasco-Leonesa
- Giunti Editore
- Graffiti
- Grafica European Center of Fine Arts
- Helikon
- Herder Verlag
- Hes & De Graaf Publishers
- Hugo Schmidt Verlag
- Idion Verlag
- Il Bulino, edizioni d'arte
- Imago
- Insel Verlag
- Istituto dell'Enciclopedia Italiana - Treccani
- Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato
- Kaydeda Ediciones
- La Meta Editore
- Leo S. Olschki
- Libreria Musicale Italiana
- Lumen Artis
- M. Moleiro Editor
- Manuscriptum
- Millennium Liber
- Nova Charta
- Orbis Mediaevalis
- Orbis Pictus
- Österreichische Staatsdruckerei
- Patrimonio Ediciones
- PIAF
- Popyläen Verlag
- Prestel Verlag
- Priuli & Verlucca, editori
- Pro Sport Verlag
- Pytheas Books
- Quaternio Verlag Luzern
- Reales Sitios
- Reichert Verlag
- Roberto Vattori Editore
- Salerno Editrice
- Schöck ArtPrint Kft.
- Scrinium
- Scripta Maneant
- Scriptorium
- Siloé, arte y bibliofilia
- Styria Verlag
- Tempus Libri
- Testimonio Compañía Editorial
- The Clear Vue Publishing Partnership Limited
- The Facsimile Codex
- The Folio Society
- Tip.Le.Co
- TouchArt
- Trident Editore
- Vallecchi
- Van Wijnen
- Vicent Garcia Editores
- Wiener Mechitharisten-Congregation (Wien, Österreich)
- Yushodo