The Belleville Breviary (Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS lat. 10484, 2 volumes) is an

illuminated Illuminated may refer to: * Illuminated (song), "Illuminated" (song), by Hurts * Illuminated Film Company, a British animation house * ''Illuminated'', alternative title of Black Sheep (Nat & Alex Wolff album) * Illuminated manuscript See also

breviary A breviary () is a liturgical book used in Christianity for praying the canonical hours, usually recited at seven fixed prayer times. Historically, different breviaries were used in the various parts of Christendom, such as Aberdeen Breviar ...

. It was produced in Paris some time between 1323 and 1326 by the artist known as

Jean Pucelle Jean Pucelle (c. 1300 – 1355; active c. 1320–1350) was a Parisian Gothic-era manuscript illuminator who excelled in the invention of drolleries as well as traditional iconography. He is considered one of the best miniaturists of ...

,Deuchler (1971), 253 probably for

Jeanne de Belleville Jeanne de Clisson (1300–1359), also known as Jeanne de Belleville and the Lioness of Brittany, was a French/Breton noblewoman who became a privateer to avenge her husband after he was executed for treason by King Philip VI of France. She cross ...

, the wife of

Olivier IV de Clisson Olivier IV de Clisson (c. 1300–1343), was a Breton Marche Lord and knight who became embroiled in the intrigue of Vannes and was subsequently executed by the King of France for perceived treason. He was the husband of Jeanne de Clisson who ev ...

. The breviary is divided into two volumes of 446 and 430 folios. Volume 1 contains the prayers used during the summer, while volume 2 contains those used during the winter. The manuscript was owned by Jeanne de Belleville. It was later owned by

Charles V of France Charles V (21 January 1338 – 16 September 1380), called the Wise (; ), was King of France from 1364 to his death in 1380. His reign marked an early high point for France during the Hundred Years' War as his armies recovered much of the terri ...

and his son Charles VI. Charles VI gave the manuscript to his son-in-law

Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...

Henry IV of England Henry IV ( – 20 March 1413), also known as Henry Bolingbroke, was King of England from 1399 to 1413. Henry was the son of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster (a son of King Edward III), and Blanche of Lancaster. Henry was involved in the 1388 ...

gave it to Jean, Duc de Berry. Jean gave it to his niece Marie, who was a nun at

Poissy Poissy () is a Communes of France, commune in the Yvelines Departments of France, department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris, from the Kilometre Zero, centre of Paris. Inhabitan ...

. It was purchased in 1454 by another nun at Poissy, Marie Jouvenal des Ursins.

Notes

References

*Deuchler, Florens. "Jean Pucelle – Facts and Fictions". ''The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin''. Volume 29, no. 6, 1971 *Walther, Ingo; Norbert Wolf. ''Codices Illustres: The world's most famous illuminated manuscripts, 400 to 1600''. Köln: Taschen, 2005

External links

Digitised facsimile (volume Summer) on GallicaDigitised facsimile (volume Winter) on Gallica
Illuminated breviaries Bibliothèque nationale de France collections {{RC-book-stub