Italian Renaissance art in filigree perfection: the wedding gift of Lorenzo the Magnificent to his eldest daughter Lucrezia
Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
Florence (Italy) — 1485

Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
Florence (Italy) — 1485
This masterpiece was a wedding present from Lorenzo de' Medici (1449–92) to his eldest daughter Lucrezia
A gilded silver binding with finely worked enamel betrays the incredible illumination within
A collaboration between the miniaturist Francesco Roselli (1445–1513) and the scribe Antonio Sinibaldi (1443–1528)

Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
November: Plowing Fields
The medallion miniature for this calendar page shows a typical labor of the month, but like many agricultural activities, the scene depended upon where the manuscript originated. Most illuminated calendar pages show a scene of plowing or sowing winter rye in October, but because this manuscript is from sunny Italy, this activity is pushed back a month. A farmer is shown driving two oxen with a background of barren trees and distant Alpine peaks inside of a splendid gold leaf frame.
Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
- Prayerbook of Lorenzo de' Medici
- Gebetbuch des Lorenzo de' Medici
Short Description
The splendid Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici (1449–1492) was a wedding present to his eldest daughter Lucrezia (1470–1553), who married the Florentine banker Jacopo Salviati (1461–1533). The gilded silver binding with finely worked enamel directly reveals to the beholder what a precious manuscript this is. Hidden within it are 556 pages with ten-full page miniatures, twelve small calendar medallions, and seven historiated initials. The miniaturist favored by the Medici, Francesco Roselli (1455–1513), was responsible for painting them. The text originates from the scribe Antonio Sinibaldi (1443-before 1528).
Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
Lorenzo de’ Medici (1449–1492) earned the epithet of “the Magnificent” thanks to his generous patronage of the fine arts. Consistent with his love of painting, he gifted a splendid prayer book to his older daughter Lucrezia (1470–1553) on the occasion of her wedding to the Florentine banker Jacopo Salviati (1461–1533). The manuscript originated in 1485 with ten full-page miniatures, twelve smaller calendar medallions and seven historiated initials on a total of 556 pages. The party responsible for the detailed paintings was the Medici family’s most favored miniaturist, Francesco Rosselli (1455–1513), the younger brother of the famous Florentine painter Cosimo Rosselli (1439–1507). Antonio Sinibaldi (1443-before 1528) contributed to the work as a scribe. He worked primarily for wealthy collectors and occasionally in permanent positions, such as for King Ferrante of Naples (1424–1494).
Gleaming Binding
The beholder is made aware of the preciousness of the manuscript even before they lay eyes on its luminous miniatures. A radiant gilded silver binding houses the prayer book. The silver plates of both covers are interlinked by five hinges decorated with vegetal décor. The richly ornamented front cover displays a diamond-shaped enamel work in the center field with the Archangel Gabriel, while Mary can be seen on the back cover. The binding alone demonstrates that this is an exceptionally precious manuscript.
A Recognizable Pattern of Décor
The painter Francesco Rosselli showed particular discipline in designing individual pages with an architectural pattern of décor. While large primary scenes such as the Annunciation or the Crucifixion are encompassed in arched frames, appearing underneath them are smaller pictures in quatrefoil or multi-foil frames. The entire composition was then encompassed by repetitively detailed decorative motifs such as foliage, diamond rings, or winged cherubs. Thus, the impression is given that every page is decorated down to the smallest detail, making it possible to continuously discover something new.
Codicology
- Alternative Titles
- Prayerbook of Lorenzo de' Medici
Gebetbuch des Lorenzo de' Medici - Size / Format
- 556 pages / 17.0 × 10.8 cm
- Origin
- Florence (Italy)
- Date
- 1485
- Epochs
- Style
- Genre
- Language
- Illustrations
- 10 full-page miniatures, 12 smaller calendar miniatures, 7 historiated initials
- Artist / School
- Miniaturist: Francesco Rosselli (1455–1513)
Scribe: Antonio Sinibaldi (1443–before 1528) - Previous Owners
- The manuscript was perhaps a gift to the dukes of Wittelsbach in whose inventory it appears for the first time in 1598. In 1785 it passed into the possessions of the Court Library in Munich.

Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici
Front Cover and Spine
This elaborate book cover consists of five colorful enamel inlays set in gilded silver over a wood binding, which is engraved with roses, acanthus leaves, ribbons, and braided cords. The underlying silver is showing through the gold in some places, indicating that this was indeed a personal devotional manuscript that was frequently used. It was created by an unknown goldsmith ca. 1485.
The central enamel features the archangel Gabriel (the Virgin Mary is on the back), surrounded by four other enamels with flowers in amphorae, tendrils, and a bird. Five hinges, also made of gilded silver, connect the nearly identical front and back covers and consist of symmetrically arranged palmettes flanking a blossom surrounded by petals in the center.
2 available facsimile edition(s) of „Prayer Book of Lorenzo de' Medici“
Gebetbuch des Lorenzo de' Medici - De Luxe Edition
- Publisher
- Coron Verlag – Gütersloh, 1991
- Limited Edition
- 300 copies
- Binding
- Finest gold work with two bigger enamelled miniatures on front and back cover, 8 smaller enamelled floral miniatures and two gilt clasps
- Commentary
-
1 volume (402 pages) by Erwin Arnold, Mark L. Evans, Albinia C. de la Mare and Lorenz Seelig
Languages: German - 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.
Gebetbuch des Lorenzo de' Medici - Standard Edition
- Limited Edition
- 500 copies
- Binding
- Red velvet with enamelled miniature on front cover
- Commentary
-
1 volume (402 pages) by Erwin Arnold, Mark L. Evans, Albinia C. de la Mare and Lorenz Seelig
Languages: German - 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.
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