The Figurative Apocalypse: an illuminated treasure uniting art, power and spirituality
The name of the manuscript ‘Figurative Apocalypse of the dukes of Savoy’ derives from its content, a fully illuminated or ‘figurative’ ‘Apocalypse’, and from its owners or patrons: Amadeus VIII, first Duke of Savoy, and his great-grandson, also Duke Charles I of Savoy. All the pages are very carefully organised: a large box containing the miniature scene, two columns of writing at the bottom, with the summarised texts of the Apocalypse in black and Berengaudus’ ninth-century commentary in red, and, in addition, decorated borders that serve to frame the page. In the folios containing the narrative of the Apocalypse, the figure of St John is depicted in the middle of the borders, in a variety of attitudes and postures, depending on what is happening in each scene.
The decoration in the illuminated Apocalypse of the Duke of Savoy
The decoration is very rich throughout the codex, making it one of the most important in the panorama of illuminated manuscripts:
- it consists of 2 preliminary miniatures with the life of St. John
- 91 corresponding to the apocalyptic cycle
- 4 final miniatures with the life of St John
- 90 different images with the figure of the Apostle John
- 183 large decorated capitals
- and 97 profusely decorated marginal bands
Unique and limited worldwide edition of Figurative Apocalypse of the dukes of Savoy
666 numbered, authenticated and certified copies
Location: Royal Monastery of El Escorial
Signatura: Showcases 1
Subject: Bible. Apocalypse
Period/origin: 15th century. 1428-1435 (the first 25 folios)
1485-1490 (the last 24 folios)
Dimensions/extension: 410×265 mm ; 100 pages : Manuscript on fine parchment
Artists: Jean Bapteur and Pèronet Lamy (fols. 1-25), Jean Colombe (fols. 26-49), Thonon (Haute Savoie).
Illustrations: Illuminated with 187 miniatures with natural pigments and gold and silver decorations.
Author: St. John, the Book of Revelation; Commentary by Berengaudus
Supplementary volume of studies: Clément de Vasselot de Régné, Doctor in Medieval History, Université de Lille
Volumen de estudios complementario: Clément de Vasselot de Régné, doctor en historia medieval, Université de Lille
Owners: Amadeus VIII, first Duke of Savoy, and his great-grandson, also Duke Charles I of Savoy. The work passed from the dukes of Savoy to Margaret of Austria, then to Mary of Hungary and finally to Philip II, who sent it to El Escorial in 1566.
Writing: Latin language, French Gothic script in two columns, with texts in black (Apocalypse) and red (Berengaudus’ commentary).
Binding: Handmade in green velvet on wooden board, identical to the original, as stated in the inventory of Margaret of Austria. The present binding dates from the 18th century on a board covered with ornamented red leather and gilt stamping. In the centre of the decoration is the royal crown above the coat of arms with the grill of Saint Lawrence, a characteristic symbol of the Monastery and the Royal Library of El Escorial
The figurative Apocalypse of the dukes of Savoy to the library of the Escorial
The figurative Apocalypse of the dukes of Savoy passed from the dukes of Savoy to Margaret of Austria, then to Mary of Hungary and finally to Philip II, who sent it to the Escorial in 1566.
The start of an unfinished work by French miniaturists
The accounts of the House of Savoy show that from December 1428 to February 1435, the French miniaturists Jean Bapteur and Péronet Lamy received sums on account for the execution of the Apocalypse. These included sums for the purchase of candles and other utensils. Although they had been working on the manuscript for seven years, they only finished the illustrations up to folio 25.
Jean Bapteur, his influences from the Limbourg brothers and the Duke of Berry
Jean Bapteur had trained in the workshop of the Limbourg brothers, who were employed by Jean, Duke of Berry, as painters.
After the Duke’s death in 1416, he was hired by his daughter Bona, married to Amadeus VII of Savoy, as a painter for the court of Savoy. For the composition of this Apocalypse, Bapteur took Péronet Lamy as his partner. He only painted the capitals, the borders and the miniatures on folios 24v, 25r and 25v, leaving the work unfinished at that point due to the death of his mandatary Bona de Berry.
The text was written by Cardino, a scribe from Paris.
The completion of the Figurative Apocalypse of the dukes of Savoy: Jean Colombe takes over
Fifty years later, the Bourges artist Jean Colombe took over and worked on the manuscript for another five years until its successful completion. Colombe had just finished “The Tres Riches Heures of Jean, Duke of Berry“, also unfinished about halfway through, which Bona de Berry had inherited from his father, Duke Jean.
Pictorial tradition and textual synthesis in the illuminated Apocalypses
Like the miniaturists of the Commentary of Beatus of Liébana, the miniaturists of the El Escorial Apocalypse were obliged to select and summarise the text in order to preserve the pictorial tradition of the illuminated Apocalypses. This manuscript includes the text of the Apocalypse of St John and brief summaries of the Commentary of Berengaudus (9th century) alluding to the same episode. Thus both texts may have a certain relationship with the traditional miniature.
Why buy the fine facsimile Figurative apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy from Patrimonio Ediciones?
This is the only fine facsimile edition, of exquisite quality, of the figurative Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy, reproduced in full size, reproducing the original 15th century binding of the manuscript. This is attested to in the inventory of Marguerite d’Autriche’s possessions and recorded in our book of scholarly commentaries by the prestigious Clément de Vasselot de Régné – Doctor in medieval history, Université de Lille – which accompanies the fine facsimile in a separate bound volume.
The figurative Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy is ‘universally recognised as one of the finest illustrated manuscripts’.
This fine facsimile reproduction will give you access to one of the greatest works of art in the world.
How to buy the fine facsimile Figurative apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy from Patrimonio Ediciones?
Buying the fine facsimile Figurative Apocalypse of the Dukes of Savoy is easy. You only have to contact our experts who will advise you on all its contents, characteristics and will help you to follow the purchase process.
