Jan Zamoyski's Prayer Book is a French printed prayer book from around 1485.[1][2]
Original title | Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis ad usum Turonensem, Lat. et Gall. |
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Language | Latin, French |
Genre | book of hours |
Publisher | Jean du Pré |
Publication date | around 1485 |
Publication place | France |
Jan Zamoyski's Prayer Book is the only copy in the world of the first printed edition of the French book of hours.[1] The book was published around 1485 probably in the printshop of Jean du Pré in Paris.[1] Between the sixteenth and the twentieth century, the copy was held by the library of the Zamoyski family.[1] It is traditionally identified as the prayer book of Jan Zamoyski.[1] After the World War II, Jan Tomasz Zamoyski deposited the family library with the National Library of Poland, to which it now belongs.[1] From May 2024, the book is presented at a permanent exhibition in the Palace of the Commonwealth.[3][1]
The prayer book contains hours destined for the diocese of Tours.[4] It is printed in Gothic type on parchment.[4] A text is written in Latin and French.[1] The size of the book is 10.5x8 cm.[4] The 14 full-page figurative images preceding selected texts of the Gospels, the Hours, penitential psalms and prayers for the dead, were painted on woodcuts.[1] The other decorative elements include three small portraits of the evangelists.[4] The other decorative elements include three small portraits of the evangelists, bejewelled frames, small initials with floral and zoomorphic motifs and plant borders on the margins of some pages.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i Makowski & Sapała 2024, p. 91.
- ^ "Jan Zamoyski's Prayer Book". Polona (in Polish). National Library of Poland. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Palace of the Commonwealth open to visitors". National Library of Poland. 2024-05-28. Retrieved 2024-06-11.
- ^ a b c d e More precious than gold 2003, section ″Jan Zamoyski’s Prayer-Book″.
Bibliography
edit- Makowski, Tomasz; Sapała, Patryk, eds. (2024). The Palace of the Commonwealth. Three times opened. Treasures from the National Library of Poland at the Palace of the Commonwealth. Warsaw: National Library of Poland.
- Tchórzewska-Kabata, Halina; Dąbrowski, Maciej, eds. (2003). More precious than gold. Treasures of the Polish National Library (electronic version) (PDF). Translated by Dorosz, Janina. Warsaw: National Library of Poland. ISBN 83-7009-402-3.