Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau)

Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau) – Imago – MS W.425 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA)

Probably Brussels (Belgium) — Ca. 1520–1530

The opulent present from an influential patron of the arts to her husband: gold-decorated prayers in the dress of the Flemish Renaissance for the close confidant of Emperor Charles V, commissioned by Mencía de Mendoza

  1. Mencía de Mendoza (1508–1554) commissioned this opulent book treasure as a present for her husband Henry III of Nassau (1483–1538)

  2. 58 gold-decorated single leaves of the luxurious manuscript have been preserved, containing the calendar and 23 picture pages

  3. The magnificent codex was created by a gifted anonymous illuminator in the style of the Master of Charles V

Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau)

Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
  1. Description
  2. Facsimile Editions (1)
Description
Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau)

Decorated all over in gold, the stunning Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau) is a masterpiece of Flemish Renaissance book art, which is today only preserved in fragments. The 58 surviving individual leaves are brought together again in the facsimile creating a breathtaking codex. Almost every one of the remaining pages is adorned with a magnificent border of gold and flowers, while 23 virtuoso miniatures illuminate the prayer texts. A special gem is the completely preserved calendar with half-page images of everyday scenes, which give us a wonderful impression of 16th century life. This precious jewel was commissioned by the influential patron of the arts and culture Mencía de Mendoza (1508–1554) as a lovely gift for her husband Henry III of Nassau (1483–1538), confidant of Emperor Charles V, and was created by a talented anonymous illuminator in the style of the Master of Charles V. The ornate 19th century binding is a historicist creation by Léon Gruel (1841–1923) and is decorated with two enamel plaques of Christ and Mary.

Codicology

Alternative Titles
HM Prayer Book
Gebetbuch Heinrichs III. von Nassau
Il Libro d’Ore del Maestro di Carlo V
Size / Format
116 pages / 9.0 × 6.5 cm
Origin
Belgium
Date
Ca. 1520–1530
Language
Script
Gothic Rotunda
Illustrations
15 full-page and 8 large miniatures, 12 half-page calendar pictures, 116 decorated borders, numerous decorated initials
Content
Calendar, Hours of the Virgin, Seven Penitential Psalms, Suffrages, Devotional texts
Patron
Mencía de Mendoza (1508–1554)
Previous Owners
Henry III of Nassau-Dillenburg-Dietz (1483–1538)
Peter Marié
Henry Walters

Available facsimile editions:
Prayer Book of Henry III (Nassau) – Imago – MS W.425 – Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, USA)
Imago – Rimini, 2023
Limited Edition: 300 copies
Facsimile Editions

#1 Il Libro d’Ore del Maestro di Carlo V

Imago – Rimini, 2023

Publisher: Imago – Rimini, 2023
Limited Edition: 300 copies
Binding: Faithful reproduction of the magnificent 19th century binding by Léon Gruel
Commentary: 1 volume by Carla Rossi
Language: Italian
1 volume: Exact reproduction of the original document (extent, color and size) 58 individual leaves of the original manuscript have survived. The arrangement of the pages was primarily based on the desired pictorial sequence rather than the textual background.
Facsimile Copy Available!
Price Category: €€€
(3,000€ - 7,000€)
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