Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria
France — 15th century
Created for the pious Archduchess of Austria with a particular sense of family: Barbara’s personal book of hours with her imperial family motto on almost every page, created in the circle of Jean Bourdichon.
The precious Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria (1539–1572) may “only” contains the Office of the Virgin Mary, but it is all the more magnificently decorated for it. It was created for the pious Austrian Archduchess and Duchess of Ferrara and probably accompanied her at her wedding to Alfonso II d’Este (1533–1597). It is not clear who commissioned this private devotional book. However, it is possible that the splendid manuscript was a gift to Barbara from Philip the Fair (1478–1506) or his son, Emperor Charles V (1500–1558). Its illumination is undoubtedly royal: illuminators from the circle of the two prominent French court painters Jean Bourdichon (c. 1457–1521) and Jean Fouquet (c. 1420–1478/ 81) provided the gold-adorned gem with 17 full-page miniatures, over 300 imaginative drolleries, and beautiful, multicolored foliate borders. In addition, the impressively varied use of painting techniques and pigments is an artistic expression of the high quality of this beautiful manuscript.
The precious manuscript of this Office of the Virgin Mary was in the possession of Barbara of Austria, an Austrian archduchess and wife of Alfonso II d’Este, Duke of Ferrara. As a private devotional book, the manuscript was probably with her during her wedding. The manuscript was made in France in the late 15th century in the French late-Gothic style of illumination – probably from the circle of the famous court painters Jean Bourdichon (c. 1457–1521) and Jean Fouquet (c. 1420–1478/ 81).
The Ducal Owner
The precious Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria, which can be found today in the collection of the Biblioteca Estense Universitaria in Modena, was the private devotional book of Barbara of Austria. Barbara of Austria (1539–1572) was one of 11 children resulting from the union of Ferdinand I, who eventually became Holy Roman Emperor, and Anna Jagiello and as such was an Austrian archduchess. She married Alfonso II d’Este, the Duke of Ferrara in the year 1565. However, Barbara died already at the age of 33. The famous poet Torquato Tasso, whom she encountered in Italy, dedicated some of his poems to the Duchess of Ferrara.
In the Circle of the Famous Court Painter
The French Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria probably accompanied Barbara on the day of her wedding to Alfonso d’Este. Already having been made in France in the 15th century, this manuscript presents itself as a splendid work of French Gothic art. It is stylistically reminiscent of the painting of Jean Bourdichon (1457–1521), who was active was a court painter for three French kings and is famous for his Prayer Book of Anne de Bretagne, inter alia. The Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis of Barbara of Austria probably originated from Bourdichon’s circle.
French Visual Adornment and an Austrian Motto
The 332 pages of the manuscript were adorned with 17 full-page miniatures and countless initials and other elements. Broad decorative frames, filled with magnificent ornamentation and decorative motifs, surround the primary miniatures with scenes from the life of the Virgin Mary. The ornamentation is permeated with representations of animals and plants both real and fantastic, or cherubs and musical angels, and a variety of additional decorative elements.
Codicology
Alternative Titles
Offiziolo di Barbara d’Austria
Stundenbuch von Barbara von Österreich
Officium Beate Marie Virginis di Barbara d’Austria
Hours of Barbara of Austria
Size / Format
332 pages / 17.5 × 12.0 cm
Origin
France
Date
15th century
Epochs
Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style
Gothic
Genre
Private Devotion Books
Language
Latin
Script
Littera bastarda
Illustrations
17 full-page miniatures and 328 depictions of animals and plants
Content
Book of hours
Artist / School
French Gothic style of Jean Bourdichon
Previous Owners
Archduchess Barbara of Austria (1539–1572)
