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).
Real and mythical animals (Book 18: On animals)
The miniature is divided into thirteen panels. A crowned animal, possibly a panther, occupies the central compartment. This is surrounded by twelve smaller panels featuring a camel, bear, wolf, elephant, lion, porcupine, stag, fox, doe, griffin, boar and unicorn. The animals are painted against alternating blue and red backgrounds, which create a chequerboard effect.