{"id":8600,"date":"2026-01-27T22:54:22","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T22:54:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sjvdenver.edu\/library\/?page_id=8600"},"modified":"2026-01-27T23:05:38","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T23:05:38","slug":"fascimile-chansonnier-de-jean-de-montchenu","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sjvdenver.edu\/library\/fascimile-chansonnier-de-jean-de-montchenu\/","title":{"rendered":"Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu<\/strong><\/h1>\n

Savoy (France)\u00a0\u2014 Ca. 1460<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Once owned by the Rothschild family and unique in its form: the famous heart-shaped hymnbook with 44 love songs for Bishop Montchenu, a clerical romantic at the French royal court.<\/p>\n

The so-called\u00a0Chansonnier cordiforme<\/em>\u00a0\u2013 the heart-shaped hymnbook \u2013 or\u00a0Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu<\/em>\u00a0is one of the most exceptional manuscripts created in medieval Europe because of its shape. The small masterpiece was commissioned sometime between 1460 and 1477 by the French nobleman Jean de Montchenu (1442\u20131506), Bishop of Agen and Viviers, who was surprisingly known at the French royal court as an advocate of romantic love. Accordingly, it contains 44 love songs in French and Italian, written by some of the most important composers of the 15th century. Just as appealing as the external form of this special codex is its incredibly precious illumination. Two full-page miniatures illustrate the love that the songs explore. Plus, every page of this precious musical gem is decorated with shiny gold borders made of wonderful vegetal elements and imaginative, humorous drolleries.<\/p>\n

The gorgeous,\u00a0heart-shaped hymnbook once belonging to the French nobleman Jean de Montchenu<\/strong>\u00a0is counted among the most exciting and precious manuscripts to be created in the Middle Ages. The work contains\u00a044 polyphonic chants in French and Italian<\/strong>, which were composed by the most famous musicians of the Middle Ages \u2013\u00a0Guilliaume Dufay, Johannes Ockeghem, and Antoine Busnois<\/strong>\u00a0inter alia. The precious codex attained worldwide fame particularly because of its unusual shape. The closed book takes the form of a heart, which splits into two hearts when opened.\u00a0Consistent with its design, the text of the work\u2019s lyrics deal with love<\/strong>, in particular the love affairs of the French court during the lifetime of its patron. The richly designed book pages contain\u00a0colorful illuminations, gilded initials, and lavish bordures<\/strong>\u00a0with fantastic animal and plant patterns.<\/p>\n

Love at the French Court<\/h3>\n

The canon\u00a0Jean de Montchenu was a nobleman in 15th century France<\/strong>. There is very little reliable information concerning the cleric\u2019s life today. It is known, however, that he was\u00a0bishop of the parishes of Agen and Vivier in 1477 and 1478, respectively<\/strong>. Montchenu had the reputation of being an\u00a0advocate of romantic love between people at the French royal court<\/strong>. Consistent with his personality, the nobleman commissioned his heart-shaped hymnbook with medieval French and Italian love songs between 1460 and 1477. It was written and charmingly illuminated by unbelievably talented, but nonetheless unknown artists. From its patron Montchenu, the\u00a0Chansonnier<\/em>\u00a0passed through various hands before coming into\u00a0the possession of the Rothschild family<\/strong>, more precisely, the private library of the youngest son of\u00a0James de Rothschild<\/strong>, Henri. In a ceremonial act,\u00a0the masterful work was presented to the French National Library by Henri de Rothschild on March 22nd, 1933<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

A Unique Design Concept<\/h3>\n

The\u00a0Chansonnier<\/em>\u00a0opens up like a butterfly consisting of\u00a0two interconnected hearts<\/strong>. Both of the hearts\u00a0represent two loving people who send messages of love to one another with the help of the songs contained in the book<\/strong>. The work is the only medieval manuscript worldwide to boast such a well thought out design concept.\u00a0The word \u201cheart\u201d was replaced with a pictogram in the lyrics<\/strong>. It is not only the outer form of the songbook that makes it a unique masterpiece, but also its\u00a0unbelievably rich illumination<\/strong>. It is undoubtedly counted among the most beautiful and elaborate manuscripts produced during the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n

Excellent Illustration<\/h3>\n

The manuscript,\u00a0furnished all over with colorful and golden embellishments<\/strong>, contains\u00a0two breathtaking, full-page miniatures<\/strong>. The first image shows Cupid, the angel of love, and a young woman whose breast bears one of the angel\u2019s arrows. The goddess Fortuna is found alongside Cupid and is depicted spinning her wheel of fortune. The other miniature shows the same young woman, this time depicted arm in arm with her sweetheart. Both images are framed by\u00a0fantastic bordure patterns<\/strong>\u00a0from all kinds of flowers and plants, birds, dogs, cats, and other creatures. These\u00a0charming depictions surround practically every page of the parchment manuscript<\/strong>. The manuscript was also generously furnished with letters made of\u00a0noble gold leaf<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Codicology<\/h3>\n

Alternative Titles
\n<\/strong>Book of the Heart
\nLibro del coraz\u00f3n o Cancionero cordiforme
\nLe chansonnier Cordiforme de Jean de Montchenu
\nHerzbuch<\/p>\n

Type
\n<\/strong>Manuscript on parchment<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Size \/ Format
\n<\/strong>144 pages \/ 22.0 \u00d7 16.0 cm<\/p>\n

Origin
\n<\/strong>France<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Date
\n<\/strong>Ca. 1460<\/p>\n

Epochs
\n<\/strong>Late Middle Ages Onwards<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Style
\n<\/strong>Gothic<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Genre
\n<\/strong>Music<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Language
\n<\/strong>French<\/strong><\/a>
\nItalian<\/strong><\/a>
\nSpanish<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Script
\n<\/strong>French littera bastarda<\/p>\n

Illustrations
\n<\/strong>2 full-page miniatures, numerous golden initials and floral borders with animal drolleries<\/p>\n

Content
\n<\/strong>44 love songs<\/p>\n

Patron
\n<\/strong>Jean de Montchenu (1442\u20131506), Bishop of Agen and Viviers<\/p>\n

Artist \/ School
\n<\/strong>Guillaume Dufay (1397\u20131474)
\nJohannes Ockeghem (ca. 1420\u201397)
\nGilles de Binche (ca. 1400\u201360)
\nAntoine Busnois (ca. 1430\u20131492)
\nJuan Cornago (ca. 1400 \u2013 after 1475)
\nJohannes Regis (ca. 1425 \u2013 ca. 1496)
\nHayne van Ghizeghem (ca. 1445\u201397)
\nFirminus Caron (fl. 1460\u201375)
\nRobert Morton (ca. 1430\u201379)
\nBarbingant (fl. ca. 1460)
\nJohannes Vincenet (ca. 1400 \u2013 ca. 1479)
\nGilles Binchois (ca. 1400\u201360)
\nWalter Frye (d. 1474)<\/p>\n

Previous Owners
\n<\/strong>James de Rothschild (1792\u20131868)
\nHenri de Rothschild (1872\u20131947)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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