Jean Fouquet, the most important genius of painting
of 15th century France
Jean Fouquet was an influential 15th-century French artist, known for his ability to fuse traditional Gothic art with the emerging trends of the Renaissance. He excelled in both painting and manuscript illumination, applying innovations in perspective, realism and detail that revolutionised his era. Works such as the “Diptych of Melun” reflect his mastery in combining religious and secular elements, as well as his talent for capturing the expression and character of his subjects. Fouquet left a significant legacy, inspiring future artists with his unique approach and ability to explore new dimensions in art.
His designs were carefully thought out in advance. He knew the technical aspects necessary to capture the viewer’s attention through a composition based on circles, regular polygons, the golden ratio or De Divina Proportione. As for the circles, he usually used the central circle and a second circle that he inscribed in the upper half of the painting. We can see the relationship between the two, how the first, more general, directs the second, more particular.
The Trial of the Duke of Alençon at Vendome:
The miniature divides geometrically the image of the crowded courtroom presided over in the centre by King Charles VII, to which the common people have access behind the rows of seats. Fouquet is a master of perspective. The way in which the reading of the verdict, the climax of the trial, is staged makes this miniature the most convincing historical illustration in miniaturist painting
Munich Boccaccio
De cas de nobles hommes et femmes
A collection of biographies of famous women and men from Adam and Eve, Cleopatra, King Arthur in search of the Holy Grail, to the execution of the Templars
Date of production: c 1458, Paris
Format: 404 x 295 mm
Language(s) / Length: French, 708 pages
Contents: De cas de nobles hommes et femmes;
De casibus virorum illustrium by Boccaccio;
On the fates of famous men and women
The bestseller of the nobility and their favourite reading
Author: Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) The French translation is the work of Laurent de Premierfait, commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry
Binding: crimson natural silk velvet with bronze clasps plated in pure 24K gold or goatskin embossed in gold
World edition with gold embossing: Unique and limited to 199 fine facsimile copies of exquisite and unequalled quality, numbered and authenticated
Independent volume of studies: Historical and artistic introduction and identification of illustrations
Illustrations: 91 refined miniatures illuminated in gold:
1 full-page, 10 3/4-page, and 80 1/4-page, plus thousands of gold-bordered initials on its 708 pages
Donor: Laurent Girard, secretary and treasurer responsible for the royal finances of Charles VII
Location: Bayerische Staatsbibliothek BSB, Ms. gallicus 369
Artist: Jean Fouquet ( 1420-1481 )
Previous owners: The presence in the library of the Dukes of Bavaria is documented as early as 1582
‘The Virgin and Child’, by Jean Fouquet, the “Mona Lisa” of virgins
.
Influence of Matisse
This work is characterised by its combination of Gothic and Renaissance elements, notable for its vibrant colouring and detailed realism. It earned the nickname “The Mona Lisa of virgins” for its peculiarity and relevance to religious art. The Virgin is depicted with an unusual aesthetic for the time, with a bare breast to suckle the infant Jesus, a bold and somewhat unusual touch for traditional religious depictions. In addition, the setting and posture of the figures reflect a sophistication that prefigures the Renaissance, adding uniqueness and appeal, similar to what the “Mona Lisa” represents for Italian Renaissance art.
Jean Fouquet’s influence on painters of much later periods, such as Henri Matisse, is reflected in the fusion of classical art with innovation, emphasising the use of vibrant colour and simplification of form.
Why buy the Munich Boccaccio from Patrimonio Ediciones?
Patrimonio Ediciones offers a unique experience of exquisite and unparalleled quality, combining traditional craftsmanship with respect for cultural heritage.
With this acquisition, you get much more than just a luxurious book: you get a window into the past and a work of art in itself.
It is the most famous illuminated manuscript of Boccaccio, the father of Italian literature alongside Dante and Petrarch, and its 91 lavishly gold-illuminated illustrations were executed by the genius painter Jean Fouquet. His art influenced in the 20th and 21st century genius artists such as Matisse, Juan Gris, Fernan Léger and others.
Fouquet is a master of geometry applied to painting as he mastered the art De Divina Proportione.
Left: F12 Adam and Eve expelled from paradise. Right: f337V Execution of Jacques de Molay and the Templars.
The “Munich Boccaccio” is one of the most influential literary works of the 14th century. The manuscript is named after its current location in Munich, where it is preserved as part of the collection of the Bavarian State Library. In addition to being a valuable testimony to the rich literary tradition of the early Renaissance, this manuscript is also a remarkable example of the mastery of manuscript illumination and painting during the Middle Ages.
Jean Fouquet illuminator of the Munich Boccaccio
Several arguments argue in favour of Jean Fouquet’s participation and execution in the Munich Boccace: the conception of space, the ordered compositions, the treatment of the human figure and horses, the foreshortening in front, the knowledge of Italian culture, the costumes and the Roman monuments. In addition, we can see sporadic appearances of motifs or figures taken from Etienne Chevalier’s Hours, such as the thirsty pilgrims in folio 81 by Boccace who distinguish the group of soldiers playing with dice in the tunic of Christ in the Crucifixion of Etienne Chevalier’s Hours.
Detail: F81 The high of the thirsty pilgrims; a battle of fortune and poverty.
The best seller of the nobility
Also the figure of the emperor on horseback in Boccaccio’s folio 310v which takes up the figure from Etienne Chevalier’s Martyrdom of St James the Great of the Hours. The curved movement of the street and the rounded slope towards the central gutter, in folio 332, also go back to the miniature of the Charity of Saint Martin of the Hours by Etienne Chevalier.
Detail: F310V Focas orders to kill Emperor Maurice and his sons; Preaching of Muhammad; Prodigy of honey and milk.
The masterpiece of historical illustration
Analogies have been found between the Munich Boccace and Grandes Chroniques de France , particularly in the setting. For example, on folio 183 of the Grandes Chroniques and folio 330v of the Munich Boccace , we find a neighbouring construction, with the same wall, seen in a very short cut, which divides the image in two.
Detail: F210V Death of the three Cleopatras
De casibus virorum illustrium was translated into French by order of Jean, Duke of Berry
Jean Fouquet’s work is supported by highly qualified, well-trained and skilled painters. One collaborator in particular stands out, and the first work in which this cooperation is evident and far-reaching is the present manuscript. François Avril raises the possibility that this artist, whom he calls the Master of Boccace of Munich, is one of Jean Fouquet’s two sons. The Master of Boccace of Munich is undoubtedly one of the most active relays in the dissemination of Fouquet’s art and formulas, well beyond 1500. In particular, he may have established the link between the art of his father and Jean Bourdichon.
Detail: F303 King Arthur and his knights at the round table in search of the Holy Grail. Combat against Mordred
The illustrations of the Munich Boccace manuscript borrow many elements from the works of Jean Fouquet and in particular from the Hours of Etienne Chevalier. François Avril, citing Paul Durrieu, then other art historians, considers that the whole of the 91 illustrations, if not always illuminated with the sole participation of Fouquet, is too homogeneous not to have been executed entirely under his direction and with designs by Fouquet’s own hand.
F46V The Anointing of David by Samuel; Death of Saul, defeated by the Philistines
This manuscript is an example of how the art of manuscript illumination evolved and adapted to the cultural and aesthetic changes of the 15th century. Through its pages, one can trace the transition from a more traditional and devotional art to a revolutionary and innovative approach, more secular and realistic, reflecting the changes in society and thought of the time. With “Munich Boccaccio”, readers and scholars have a unique opportunity to explore the intersection between literature and art, and to appreciate the beauty and sophistication of medieval art.
The assembly of justice of Vendôme presided by Charles VII. Right: Delivery of the French translation of Boccaccio to Jean, Duke of Berry.
