Flemish Illumination in the Era of Catherine of Cleves at Morgan Library & Museum
By STAN PARCHIN
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Simon Bening (Flemish, ca. 1483-1561). Da Costa Hours (detail: All Martyrs) (ca. 1515). Ghent, Belgium. MS M.399, fol. 295v. Morgan Library & Museum. |
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| Master of Jean Chevrot (act. ca. 1440-1460). Book of Hours (detail: St. George Slaying the Dragon) (ca. 1450). Bruges, Belgium. Morgan Library & Museum. |
January 20, 2010
The last great flowering of Flemish manuscript illumination occurred in the 15th and early 16th Centuries. New York's
Morgan Library & Museum describes this artistic highpoint in
Flemish Illumination in the Era of Catherine of Cleves. Eighteen devotional Books of Hours produced in and around Flanders, all from the Morgan's collection, are on display in the first-floor Clare Eddy Thaw Gallery. The intimate exhibition complements
Demons and Devotions: The Hours of Catherine of Cleves. Both shows run from January 22 to May 2, 2010.
Late medieval and Northern Renaissance illuminators are the focus of this presentation. Included are works by Lieven van Lathem (ca. 1430-1493) and Willem Vrelant (act. 1454-1481), collaborators of the anonymous Master of Catherine of Cleves.
The superb artistry of Simon Bening (1483-1561) is represented by three manuscripts. The
Da Costa Hours (ca. 1515), known for its lush landscapes, decorated margins and keen attention to detail, is open to the image of All Martyrs, which graphically demonstrates how Christians were put to death over the centuries for professing their faith. The second volume reveals the Flight into Egypt, an example of Bening's preoccupation with atmospheric conditions. Notable in the miniature's background to the right of the Virgin Mary's head, a small gold statue toppled from a column on a hill symbolizes the collapse of the old pagan world. The
Van Damme Book of Hours displays the Annunciation to the Shepherds, a dramatic nighttime scene.
Also on view is a
Book of Hours (ca. 1450) by the Master of Jean Chevrot (act. ca. 1440-1460). The illuminator worked closely with Jan van Eyck (ca. 1380/90-1441) on the
Turin-Milan Hours (1380-1450). On display is the Chevrot Master's illustration of St. George Slaying the Dragon. The artist's attention to detail in the armor, birds and dragon's genitals is reminiscent of van Eyck's panel paintings.