Très Riche Heures

… is a very richly decorated Book of Hours commissioned by Jean, Duc du Berry, brother of King Charles V, in about 1410. It is probably the most important illuminated manuscript of the 15th century. The artist Pol de Limbourg used the most expensive colors obtained by grinding rare minerals. Particularly key to this palette is a rich, almost purplish blue, used in generous quantities, offset by orpiment yellow and lake red; not even a single shadow was allowed to mar the clarity of the colors. This exquisite book is in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, France …

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