The Visconti Hours - Biblioteca Nazionale, Florence
By Millard Meiss and Edith W. Kirsch
Published by Thames and Hudson: London 1972
Facsimile reproduction of a 14th century Italian book of hours. With sleeve.
"The Visconti Hours is a magnificent facsimile reproduction of one of the most celebrated illuminated manuscripts of the late Middle Ages, the lavish 14th-century Book of Hours commissioned for the powerful Visconti family of Milan and now held in the Biblioteca Nazionale, Florence. Edited and introduced by the eminent art historians Millard Meiss and Edith W. Kirsch, this volume reproduces the manuscript's extraordinary miniatures, borders, and decorative initials in rich colour, capturing the splendour of early Italian Gothic illumination at its height. The original manuscript stands among the most important surviving devotional books of its period, both for its artistic quality and its aristocratic provenance.
The commentary provides scholarly context on the manuscript's creation, iconography, and historical significance, situating it within the cultural world of 14th-century northern Italy and the artistic circles associated with the Visconti court. Meiss and Kirsch examine the hands of the illuminators, stylistic influences, and devotional themes, offering insight into how personal prayer books functioned as objects of both piety and prestige. The facsimile pages, reproduced at generous scale, allow the reader to appreciate the intricate detail, jewel-like colour, and narrative sophistication of the miniatures in a way rarely possible outside a major library.
Published by Thames and Hudson in 1972 and housed in its original sleeve, this edition remains one of the most attractive and accessible presentations of a medieval Book of Hours in facsimile form. It is both a visual treasure and a serious art-historical resource, appealing particularly to admirers of medieval illumination, students of Gothic and early Renaissance art, and collectors of high-quality facsimile manuscripts and art books."
Includes sleeve with light wear only. No inscriptions. An excellent copy, clean and unmarked. Very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
