The Missals of Felix V and Early Savoyard Illumination
Sheila Edmunds
The casual suggestion by an anonymous book reviewer1 in 1895 that a study of the library House Savoy might well repay effort has never been fully heeded. Two manuscripts once part library,2 Heures de Turin and Très Riches Heures, have since become fundamental histories fifteenth century Flemish French art, but very importance these superb may hindered further investigation Savoyard collection. Only two bearing arms attracted any serious critical attention: so-called Escorial Apocalypse 1428, to which we shall return, hours made for Duke Louis ca. 1450.3 In 1955 latter served as focus group five manuscripts,4 catalogue was notable use term “Savoyard” regional rather than family sense. Some associated with Hours Louis, like sumptuous Saluzzo,5 were certainly people close to, not members of, Savoy, stylistic cohesion within this constitutes evidence interesting indigenous school. catalogue, however, although useful preliminary guide illumination during second half century, suggests no art datable between survived. Yet early 1910 Toesca6 had remarked (without amplifying) there points common among Apocalypse, Saluzzo, Roman missals belonged antipope Felix V are now both Turin, one Biblioteca Reale7 (hereafter called “Royal Missal”), other Archives State8 “Archives Missal”). These missals, long neglected, prove be works that, enlarging our knowledge artistic activity 1430 1445, indicate still profitably studied.
Art Bulletin