Master of the Mazarine Hours
Artists
The Master of the Mazarine Hours, one of the foremost illuminators working in Paris c.1400-1415, is named after one of his finest works, a Book of Hours (Paris, Bibliothèque Mazarine, MS 469). He is known for his luminous colour scheme and complex mixtures of pigments, carefully blended to create subtle effects. The Master of the Mazarine Hours was a close collaborator of another leading Parisian artist, the Boucicaut Master (c. 1390-1430). Important iconographic and stylistic parallels for the Fitzwilliam’s copy of Corbechon’s text are found in a slightly earlier copy of the same work, which was illuminated by the Boucicaut Master c. 1409-1410 (Paris, BnF, MS fr. 9141).
Eagle, swan, griffon and rooster (Book 12: On birds)
The eagle, swan and rooster are depicted realistically, alongside a mythical griffon with a blue head and blue and white wings.
Infrared imaging reveals the word ‘rot’ (‘red’ in German), hidden beneath the red background of the miniature (see Infrared Layer). Written by the Mazarine Master, this instruction served to inform his assistants how to complete that portion of the miniature. The same word has been detected underneath the paint layers in the background of the miniature on fol. 163r. Similar instructions have not been found beneath the paint layers of the plain red grounds in the manuscript (e.g. fol. 296v), suggesting, perhaps, that the word ‘rot’ was used to indicate this particular pattern of red scrolls of acanthus on a slightly darker red ground.