Prayer Book of Queen Beatrice

Beatrice of Aragon (1457–1508) was Queen of Hungary and Bohemia and a great patron of Renaissance art
She commissioned a small prayer book, written entirely in gold ink, to be made for her in northern Italy
A miniature of Christ, ornate decorated initials and gold adorned borders complement the golden texts

Prayer Book of Queen Beatrice

Cod. 1845 Benediktinerstift Melk (Melk, Germany)

Description

Prayer Book of Queen Beatrice

The Benedictine Abbey of Melk preserves a true gem of the Italian Early Renaissance, created in the second half of the 15th century in Upper Italy for Beatrice of Aragon (1457–1508), Queen of Hungary and Bohemia and daughter of the King of Naples. The prayer book of the influential patron of humanist Renaissance art and literature contains a compilation of Christian prayers addressed to the Virgin Mary, which were compiled by Bonaventure. The texts have not only been brought onto the small parchment pages of the codex in the highest calligraphic quality, but also shine completely in gold ink. The artistic chrysography is complemented by a magnificently designed incipit page, a large miniature of Christ, countless gorgeous decorated initials and gold-embellished borders, which make this manuscript a brilliant testimony to Beatrix's efforts to bring the new developments in art from her homeland to Hungary.

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Psalterium Beatae Mariae Virginis. Das Gebetbuch der Königin Beatrix
Das Gebetbuch der Königin Beatrix von Ungarn
Prayer Book of Queen Beatrice
Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis
Stundenbuch Beatrix von Ungarns
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 352 pages / 10.5 × 7.6 cm
Origin: Italy
Date: Second half of the 15th century
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Renaissance
Genre: Private Devotion Books
Language: Latin
Script: Gothic Rotunda
Illustrations: 1 large miniature, 1 historiated initial, 2 large ornamental initials and countless pen-flourish initials, ornate borders on 4 pages, chrysography
Patron: Beatrice of Naples, Queen of Hungary and of Bohemia
Previous Owners: Nikolaus Pálffy of Erdőd
Péter Koháry

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 Psalterium Beatae Mariae Virginis. Das Gebetbuch der Königin Beatrix

Helikon – Budapest, 1991

Publisher: Helikon – Budapest, 1991

Binding: Dark brown gold embossed leather binding with clasp in gold embossed velvet covered case

Commentary: 1 volume by Csaba Csapodi
Language: English, German, Hungarian, Italian

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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Prayer Book of Queen Beatrice