THE ISABELLA BREVIARY | Deluxe Edition Art Book: Silk Bound, Hardcover, Dust-jacket | 352 pages | 9x13 in | 33x23 cm | All illuminations in full-colour explained | Medieval Illuminated Manuscripts

This is a deluxe edition art book on the Isabella Breviary, the one that belonged to Queen Isabella I of Spain (Castile) who comissioned and funded Columbus America's discovery travel.

This book has all the illuminations of the Isabella Breviary full-colour reproduced and explained by top experts on the subject.

A must in any Medieval lover's library.

The Isabella Breviary is the British Library's most highly prized treasure, one of the most beautiful Medieval illuminated manuscripts ever. This amazing manuscript was conceived of as the most luxurious Flemish breviary. Each of its pages has been masterfully illuminated by the finest Flemish painters, resulting in a lavish manuscript of peerless beauty.

The originality and impact of the miniatures in the Isabella Breviary make this a unique codex. Having more texts than a book of hours, a breviary offers illuminators a wider range of themes and consequently more artistic license and a greater variety of images. The six masters who worked on the Isabella Breviary paid particular attention to the scenes depicting the building, destruction and reconstruction of the temple and city of Jerusalem and also the celebration scenes with musicians and singers led by David. No other contemporary manuscript features a similar series.

The main painter in the Isabella Breviary is the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook, an artist remarkable for the narrative expressiveness of his images and his ability to breathe life and movement into his scenes. His skilful portrayal of gestures and facial expressions, underlining the main action of each episode, is astounding.

Gérard Horenbout, also known as the Master of James IV of Scotland, is the second greatest illuminator in the Isabella Breviary. This brilliant miniaturist, also the creator of the Hours of Joanna of Castile, was one of the first Flemish illuminators to incorporate elements characteristic of the Renaissance into his miniatures.