Hours of Francis I

Hours of Francis I

Master of François de Rohan

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This is the only extant fully illuminated Book of Hours made for King Francis I (1494–1547, ruled from 1515). The eighteen illuminations in this devotional book feature the Gospels and various scenes from the lives of Christ and Mary. The most unusual miniature represents King Francis I kneeling before Saint Marcoulfe. By tradition, French kings venerated the saint's relics at Corbeny and were then empowered to heal those sick with the skin disease scrofula, called the "king's evil". With strong, bright colors and clearly defined compositions the so-called Master of François de Rohan painted the illuminations; the script is likely to be by Jean Mallard. To prevent light damage a different page will be revealed every few months.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.