The breviary of Ercole I d’Este and the classical tradition in Ferrara illumination of the end 15th – the beginning 16th century

Abstract

The article presents one of the masterpieces of Renaissance Ferrara illumination – the Breviary of Ercole I d’Este (1502–1505). This manuscript was created during the active development of printing, and this fact underlines its special status and importance for the customer, and also demonstrates the stability of artistic traditions at the Ferrara court. At the same period – the first years of the 16th century – the artistic language of the Early Renaissance was changed for completely different traditions of the High Renaissance art. First of all, it was expressed in the leading role of classical motifs. The Breviary of Ercole I demonstrates the development of the classical tradition in Ferrara illumination. The article presents the manuscript in the context of the court culture of Renaissance Ferrara, providing the stylistic and iconographic analysis of the manuscript decor. The creation of the Breviary of Ercole I reflected the identity of his customer, Duke Ercole I d’Este, who contributed to the development of the humanistic culture in Ferrara. At the same time, Ercole I was a very religious man, and his personal religiosity became an important virtue of a ruler. Matteo da Milano, a representative of the Lombard school of book illumination, characterized by the classical ornamental decoration, created the most impressive elements of the manuscript decor. Besides him, there were other artists to decorate the Breviary, but their miniatures are more connected with the 15th century local tradition. In the art of Ferrara, the classical tradition took part of the «politics of magnificence». The abundance of classical motifs in this manuscript, thus, could be the goal of the customer who wished to glorify himself in this special way.