Dominicus Kálmáncsehi's Prayer Book Facsimile Edition

This richly illuminated Prayer Book, once owned by Dominicus Kálmáncsehi, Provost of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Székesfehérvár, is a masterpiece of late fifteenth-century Hungarian Renaissance culture. Preserved today in a foreign collection, the codex combines exquisite artistry with liturgical and historical significance, making it one of the most remarkable witnesses to the devotional and artistic life of King Matthias Corvinus’s reign.

As both a devotional artifact and an illuminated treasure, Kálmáncsehi’s Prayer Book constitutes a primary source for the study of Renaissance art and liturgy in Hungary.

The Patron: Dominicus Kálmáncsehi

Kálmáncsehi was one of the most influential prelates of Matthias Corvinus’s court. According to Antonio Bonfini, the Italian humanist historian, he was valued by the king for his eloquence, charisma, and administrative talents, entrusted with both diplomatic and financial responsibilities. Beyond his courtly role, however, he is best remembered as a bibliophile whose collection reflected the intellectual and artistic ambitions of Renaissance Hungary.

The Manuscript and Its Scribe

Among the codices associated with Kálmáncsehi, the Prayer Book stands out for its unique character. It contains a rare blend of Hungarian and Austrian liturgical traditions, shedding light on the diversity of devotional practice in the region. Exceptionally, the scribe identified himself within the manuscript: Stephanus de Cachol, a Franciscan friar. This unusual self-attribution grants scholars valuable insight into the production context of the volume.

Artistic Features and Style

The ornamentation of the codex evokes the refined jewel-like decoration of the Bibliotheca Corvina, Matthias Corvinus’s celebrated royal library. Its miniatures and decorative program represent the culmination of the artistic tendencies fostered in the royal scriptorium of Buda during the king’s final years. At the same time, the manuscript reflects the transformation of courtly art after the death of Matthias, offering a rare glimpse into this transitional moment.