Getty Museum

Leaf from the Hours of Louis XII

Date

1498/1499

Medium

Tempera and gold

Culture

French

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

This leaf with its stirring portrait of Louis XII would originally have opened a lavish book of hours court artist Jean Bourdichon painted for him. The depiction of the king in his parade armor probably celebrates his recent coronation in 1498 and reflects an official image of the new king. Louis is presented (from left to right) by several royal saints: Saint Michael, the patron saint of the royal chivalric order; Saint Charlemagne, from whom the French kings traced their descent; Saint Louis of France, the king's namesake and his forebear on the throne; and Saint Denis, the patron of the French royal household. The leaf originally faced a depiction of the lamentation of Christ, also in the Getty’s collection. Together, the leaves form a striking diptych that shows Bourdichon at the height of his artistic powers. The Hours of Louis XII was one of the greatest French manuscripts of its time. Only seventeen of the manuscript's original complement of miniatures have come to light, and the Getty has acquired four of them. The other three are the facing leaf discussed above, an image of [the Presentation in the Temple][1], and a depiction of [Bathsheba bathing][2]. [1]: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/1097M7 [2]: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/1095S8

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