La Flora Book of Hours: a great masterpiece by Simon Marmion

The suite of full-page miniatures by Simon Marmion represent his most distinctive illumination and perhaps his greatest achievement.

La Flora” is the Book of Hours dedicated to Charles VIII, King of France (1483-1498).

The innovative character, variety in format, and iconography of its illumination and the complexities of its codicology make this manuscripts, known as La Flora, among the most important and challenging of its day. La Flora features illumination by Simon Marmion, the Master of the Dresden Prayer Boook, the Master of the First Prayer Book of Maximilian, and the Master of the Prayer Books of around 1500.

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The suite of full-page miniatures by Simon Marmion is the earliest illumination contained in the manuscript: Marmion painted 22 full-page miniatures that pioneered close-up small groups of a few figures seen at half-length, which represent his most distinctive illumination and perhaps his greatest achievement.

In case you missed it: check out the beautiful gallery of the La Flora Book of HoursĀ and find out all the facsimile editions available on Facsimile Finder!