Start this article has been rated as startclass on the projects quality scale. The 500yearold rothschild prayer book is now on display at the national library in canberra, thanks to an australian billionaire who wants the world to see it. The rothschild prayerbook is the most beautiful and immediately affecting of this illustrious group and is a treasury of the work of the most gifted artists of the flemish renaissance. See more ideas about prayer book, book of hours and most expensive book. The book of hours was made in about 1505 by a number of master illustrators in. The book is an important flemishmanuscript book of hours that is illuminated and it is extremely rare. In the beginning, there are twelve calendar pages with borders and miniatures reflecting the occupations of the month. Made for a member of the imperial court in the netherlands c. One component of the rothschild prayerbook that might reflect the wishes of a commissioning patron, are. Rothschilds to sell art looted by nazis the independent. This renaissance masterpiece includes paintings of unsurpassed beauty and refined execution by some of the most soughtafter flemish illuminators of.
Called the rothschild prayerbook, it was made in the. The rothschild prayer book is an acknowledged masterpiece of renaissance manuscript illumination. The sale, which has grown to 75 lots this year, includes the two highestestimated lots of the week at any auction house. It is considered one of the great achievements of renaissance manuscript illumination. Revealing the rothschild prayer book national library of. With many other works of art from the collections of the viennese rothschilds the prayer book was sold at auction at christies in london on the 8 th of july 1999 and this is the auction catalogue. The rothschild prayerbook was said by the auction house to be one of the highest achievements of flemish renaissance painting with 150 pages. The exquisite rothschild prayer book, one of a handful of surviving netherlandish illuminated manuscripts produced in the early 1500s, was the centerpiece of the melbourne exhibition. Not seen in public for centuries, the book was acquired at auction last year by the western australian billionaire. Tiny 10inch 16th century prayer book confiscated by the. The rothschild prayer book, an early sixteenthcentury book of hours owned for many years by the famous rothschild family, was produced during the last great flourishing of manuscript illumination. The rothschild prayer book national library of australia.
Acquired by the kerry stokes collection in 2014, it includes miniatures of unsurpassed beauty and refined execution by the most renowned and soughtafter illuminators of the era. The rothschild prayerbook, which once set a record for the most expensive illuminated manuscript sold at auction, will again be offered for sale by christies. The rothschild prayerbook was said by the auction house to be one of the highest achievements of flemish renaissance painting with 150 pages and miniatures and borders of superlative quality by gerard horenbout. The rothschild prayerbook, a book of hours, use of rome. Returning to the global stage after setting the world auction record for illuminated manuscripts nearly 15 years ago at christies london, the. It is currently on display in the australian national library. The book filled with the prayer song of the church is called the bay psalm book.
Old masters week sales at christies and sothebys observer. New yorkchristies is pleased to announce the centerpiece of its renaissance sale during old masters week in january 2014 will be the rothschild prayerbook, a magnificent masterpiece of renaissance art with an illustrious provenance. The rothschild prayer book is written in latin on vellum. In 1999 the austrian government returned a stash of nazilooted treasures, including the prayer book, to members of the austrian branch of the rothschild banking. One of them, worth pounds 3m, is the rothschild prayer book containing 67 fullpage miniatures. Since its sale in 1999 it has held the world record price at auction for an illuminated manuscript. Lovely to have an image from the rothschild prayer book on the cover.
It is one of the finest illuminated manuscripts available to. The rothschild prayer book or book of hours is a masterpiece of flemish renaissance art. The 10in high, 7in wide manuscript sparked a bidding frenzy at christies in new york. This is an important cultural artefact, the flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, which was illustrated over the period c. A renaissance prayer book, a book of hours known as the rothschild prayerbook, is up for sale. The rothschild prayerbook, a book of hours, use of rome, in latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum ghent or bruges, c. Rothschild prayerbook set to break record fine books. National library announce viewing of rare rothschild.
The rothschild prayer book or the rothschild book of hours is an important flemish manuscript, compiled c. Tiny 10inch 16th century prayer book confiscated by the nazis from. The rothschild prayerbook is an illuminated manuscript dating back 500 years. Rothschild prayerbook wikipedia republished wiki 2. Last appeared on the market in 1999, as part of the renowned. There is another rothschild hours, made in rouen c. Kay sutton discuss the rothschild prayerbook, to be offered in the renaissance sale on 29 january 2014 in new.
The 150page prayerbook, youll recall, is a lavishly illuminated medieval book of hours, and at the time of its sale was considered to be the most. The rothschild prayerbook or rothschild hours is an important flemish illuminated manuscript. Also called rothschild hours, the rothschild prayer book is a flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours a popular type of christian book complete with prayers and psalms. Kay sutton discuss the rothschild prayerbook, to be offered. Foremost is the rothschild prayer book, a 250page illuminated manuscript. National library announce viewing of rare rothschild prayerbook. Kerry stokes recently made worldwide headlines with the purchase of the worlds most expensive book, the rothschild prayerbook. The rothschild prayer book, a beautiful renaissance work from 1505 with illuminations by gerard david, will be sold at auction in january, 2014, during christies old masters week. Accepted as gerard david, one of only few miniatures attributed to him. The austrian government released the prayer book to bettina. The prayerbook was offered for sale again at christies, new york, 29 january 2014 when it fetched. The rothschild prayerbook, a magnificent masterpiece of renaissance art with an illustrious provenance will be the highlight at christies renaissance auction in january 2014. Renaissance prayer book is set for auction the new york.
It was also displayed earlier this year at the national library of australia where. Surely the socalled rothschild prayer book which goes on display at the national library of australia on friday could just as accurately be called the stokes prayer book in recognition of its. The rothschild prayer book is also a florentine hebrew manuscript of 1492, and the british library has a 14th century french rothschild book of hours, often the london rothschild hours. Rothschild prayerbook is within the scope of wikiproject catholicism, an attempt to better organize and improve the quality of information in articles related to the catholic church. The principal manuscripts of the group, and those most closely related to the present manuscript, are a book of hours in the british library add.
Currently at a display in the national library of australia, this book is a very influential manuscript book of hours and is compiled by numerous artists. The renaissance prayer book was not returned to the rothschild family until 1999. Christies auction house says the rothschild prayerbook. The rothschild prayerbook or rothschild hours both titles are used for other books, is an important flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, compiled c. Horenbout was a flemish miniaturist who served in the court of king henry viii. The rothschild prayerbook or rothschild hours, is an important flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, compiled c. Seder tephilah leshachrith a small prayer book compiled. Rothschild hours flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours c. Media in category rothschild prayerbook the following 26 files are in this category, out of 26 total. There are 67 fullpage miniatures with surrounding borders, also on the pages opposite.
The 5 most expensive selling books in the world tech. Low this article has been rated as lowimportance on the projects importance scale. The renaissanceera rothschild prayerbook was stolen by the nazis in vienna in 1938, but later recovered and sold at auction to. Medieval and renaissance manuscripts specialists dr. The book of hours was made in about 1505 by a number of master illustrators in ghent or bruges in the netherlands. Rothschild prayer book deserves a new name the canberra. A rare prayerbook set to fetch over 12 million dollars at christies auction house was unveiled friday in new york city.