While taking a Northern Renaissance art class at Northern Arizona University, I became entranced by the wonderful artistry of Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (I even love saying that!). There is a great deal of debate as to which Limbourg brother did which pages, and even debate about whether all of the pages were illuminated by the Limbourg brothers at all.

Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry is a book of hours. A book of hours is a devotional book, used to keep track of the Divine Office, or the Canonical Hours of the day; such as matins, vespers, and many other times of prayer and devotion throughout the day. Each painting measures approximately 15 cm. By 22 cm. (5.5 X 8.5 inches), and is painted on vellum. (Vellum is extremely thin lamb skin that is specially and painstakingly prepared for manuscripts.) The Tres Riches Heures was painted over a period of 75 years, from 1410 to 1485. The Tres Riches Heures is currently at the Musee Conde, Chateau de Chantilly, near Paris, where it is being preserved by the Institute de France.

Some time ago, a British student sent me a report that he wrote on the Tres Riches Heures and the Limbourg brothers. You can find the section on the Limbourg brothers HERE or his entire report on Medieval and Renaissance Communication HERE