Kren Thomas, McKendrick Scot. Illuminating the Renaissance: The Triumph of Flemish Manuscript Painting in Europe

Gerry Publication, Oxford University Press, 2003. — 592 p.This comprehensive and richly illustrated catalogue focuses on the finest illustrated manuscripts produced in Europe during the great epoch in Flemish illumination. During this aesthetically fertile period—beginning in 1467 with the reign of the Burgundian duke Charles the Bold and ending in 1561 with the death of the artist Simon Bening—the art of book painting was raised to a new level of sophistication. Sharing inspiration with the celebrated panel painters of the time, illuminators achieved astonishing innovations in the handling of color, light, texture, and space, creating a naturalistic style that would dominate tastes throughout Europe for nearly a century.Centering on the notable artists of the period—Simon Marmion, the Vienna Master of Mary of Burgundy, Gerard David, Gerard Horenbout, Bening, and others—the catalogue examines both devotional and secular manuscript illumination within a broad context: the place of illuminators within the visual arts, including artistic exchange between book painters and panel painters; the role of court patronage and the emergence of personal libraries; and the international appeal of the new Flemish illumination style. Contributors to the catalogue include Maryan W. Ainsworth, curator of European paintings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; independent scholar Catherine Reynolds; and Elizabeth Morrison, assistant curator of manuscripts at the Getty Museum.
Illuminating the Renaissance is published in conjunction with an exhibition organized by the Getty Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts, London, and the British Library held at the Getty Museum from June 17 to September 7, 2003, and at the Royal Academy of Arts from November 25, 2003 to February 22, 2004.Foreword
Deborah Gribbon, Professor Phillip King, C.B.E., Lynne Brindley
Lenders to the ExhibitionNotes to the ReaderThomas Kren and Scot McKendrick
Illuminators and the Painters’ Guilds
Catherine Reynolds
Illuminators and Painters: Artistic Exchanges and Interrelationships
Thomas Kren and Maryan W. Ainsworth
Reviving the Past: Illustrated Manuscripts of Secular Vernacular Texts, 1467–1500
Scot McKendrick
Catalogue
Part 1
From Panel to Parchment and Back: Painters as Illuminators before 1470
Thomas Kren
Flemish Artists of the Turin-Milan Hours · Rogier van der Weyden · Petrus Christus · Simon Marmion (A) · Willem Vrelant
Part 2
Revolution and Transformation: Painting in Devotional Manuscripts, circa 1467–1485
Thomas Kren
Vienna Master of Mary of Burgundy (A) · Master of the Moral Treatises · Hugo van der Goes · Master of the Houghton Miniatures · Ghent Associates · Master of the First Prayer Book of Maximilian · Simon Marmion (B) · Master of the Dresden Prayer Book (A) · Dreux Jean (A) · Master of Margaret of York Group (A)
Part 3
Painting in Manuscripts of Vernacular Texts, circa 1467–1485
Scot McKendrick
Vienna Master of Mary of Burgundy (B) · Loyset Liédet · Jean Hennecart · Dreux Jean (B) · Lieven van Lathem · Master of Margaret of York Group (B) · Rambures Master · Master of the Privileges of Ghent and Flanders · Master of the Harley Froissart · Master of Anthony of Burgundy · Master of the Dresden Prayer Book (B) ·Master of the London Wavrin · Master of the Getty Froissart · Master of the White Inscriptions · Master of the Soane Josephus · Master of Edward IV (A) · Master of the First Prayer Book of Maximilian (B) · Master of the Flemish Boethius
Part 4
Consolidation and Renewal: Manuscript Painting under the Hapsburgs, circa 1485–1510
Thomas Kren
Master of the First Prayer Book of Maximilian (C) · Simon Marmion (C) · Master of Edward IV (B) · Gerard David · Master of James IV of Scotland (A) · Master of the Lübeck Bible · Master of the David Scenes in the Grimani Breviary (A) · Master of the Dresden Prayer Book (C) · Master of the Prayer Books of around 1500 · Master of Antoine Rolin
Part 5
New Directions in Manuscript Painting, circa 1510–1561
Thomas Kren
Master of James IV of Scotland (B) · Gerard Horenbout · Lucas Hornebout · Master of the David Scenes in the Grimani Breviary (B) · Master of the Soane Hours · Simon Bening · Anonymous · Jan Gossaert · Cornelis Massys · Pieter Bruegel the Elder · Master of Charles V and Circle · Master of Cardinal Wolsey · Anonymous · Pieter Coecke van Aelst
Appendix
The Scribes
Scot McKendrick
Selected Scribe Biographies
Richard Gay
Bibliographies to the Catalogue EntriesIndex of Names
Index of Works of Art
Illustration Credits
About the Authors