The most famous medieval manuscript in the world will regain the splendor it had in the 15th century

‘The Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry‘ (The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry) is a medieval icon, the ‘Mona Lisa’ of illuminated manuscripts, and thanks to funding from the European Foundation for Fine Arts (TEFAF), he Condé Museum who guards it in the Castle of Chantilly will be able to restore it to return it to all its splendor.

«Restoring the world’s most famous medieval manuscript with the support of the world’s most prestigious art fair really makes sense, and it is a great opportunity to showcase one of humanity’s treasures and preserve it for future generations“, commented Mathieu Deldicque, director of the Condé Museum, thanking the French institution for the “great honor” of receiving this year’s TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund (TMRF) in Maastricht. This annual grant, created in 2012, supports the vital work of the international arts community in preserving artistic and cultural heritage.

Rachel Kaminsky, director of the TEFAF Fund committee, described The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry as “one of the most famous masterpieces of Western artan extraordinary convergence of beauty, craftsmanship and rarity. «This unique opportunity to contribute to the conservation of the manuscript convinced the TMRF committee to give up a common consideration: that TEFAF was the main or sole sponsor of the project», Kaminsky explained.

Created for Juan, duke of berrybrother of King Charles V of France, the famous book of hours was painted by the Limbourg brothers between c. 1411 and 1416. Herman, Paul and Johan were the most famous miniaturists of the time and although they were of Dutch origin, they had been working in France for a decade in the service of the duke when they received the commission.

Neither the duke, a great bibliophile, nor the Limbourg brothers saw the manuscript completed when they died of the plague in 1416. It was completed by Barthélemy d’Eyck in the 1440s and the French miniaturist Jean Colombe around 1485.

Written in Latin and profusely illuminated, the book, measuring just 294 by 210 millimeters, contains 131 detailed illustrations, as well as 300 gilded capital letters and 1,800 gilded borders. His most famous illustrations are those of the calendar, with representations of the months and the tasks that were carried out in each one, under the dominant constellations in each one.

In 1856 it was acquired by Henry of Orleans, Duke of Aumale and son of the last king of France, Louis Philippe. This celebrated art collector transformed the Château de Chantilly he had inherited into a showcase for his numerous masterpieces and priceless manuscripts. Its collection of works of art from the late Middle Ages and early Renaissance to the 19th century is considered the second most important in France.

The Duke of Aumale bequeathed the Château of Chantilly and its collections to the Institute of France in 1886 to be exhibited, including the most famous book of hours from the 15th century.

calendar exhibition

Due to the conditions imposed by the aristocrat’s legacy, ‘The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry’ cannot be exhibited outside the Château de Chantilly and given its fragility and value, it has not been available to the public for decades.

The restoration will now allow show off your legendary calendarwhich will be separated from the binding and exhibited at the Condé Museum, along with exceptional national and international loans that will place the work in its context and reveal its influence from the 15th century to the present.

The exhibition will open a few months after the fair TEFAF Maastrichtwhich takes place from March 15 to 20, 2025 (March 13 and 14 by invitation only). It is scheduled to open from June 7 to October 5 and, according to a TEFAF statement, “will provide visitors with an unprecedented opportunity to view the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry in all its splendor, following several months of analysis and restoration work by the on-site conservation team.” ».