Jean Corbechon, Livre des propriétés des choses

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).

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Detail of the master’s face under magnification (20x).
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Detail of the purple robe under magnification (40x), showing blue and translucent red particles.
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Detail of the grey robe under magnification (40x), showing sparse black particles in a white matrix.
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Detail of a hybrid creature under magnification (7.5x). The red pigments in his hat and sleeves have degraded and darkened over time.

Master lecturing while men observe a rainbow (Book 19: On colours, smells, tastes)

Seated at a lectern with an open book, the master instructs three men. While one faces forward, concentrating on the lesson, two turn away to observe a rainbow, a phenomenon discussed in the text. Apart from a slim band of red and a larger band of yellow, the individual colours of the rainbow are not distinguished. Figures in the border include hybrid creatures and a dragon.

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