The rothschild prayerbook was said by the auction house to be one of. The book of hours was made in about 1505 by a number of master illustrators in. Records were broken one after another for old master paintings, medieval manuscripts and antiques of every variety at christies today as more than three and a half hours of feverish bidding erupted over a trove of treasures looted by the nazis and returned to the rothschild family this year by the austrian government. The book of hours was made in about 1505 by a number of master illustrators in ghent or bruges in the netherlands. Kedem auctions was established in 2008 by meron eren and avishai galer, both experienced professionals in the judaica and israeliana collectibles fields. Currently at a display in the national library of australia, this book is a very influential manuscript book of hours and is compiled by numerous artists. Since its sale in 1999 it has held the world record price. Kay sutton discuss the rothschild prayerbook, to be offered. This lecture reveals the reasons for these accolades by providing an intimate look at the miniatures and borders. Medieval and renaissance manuscripts specialists dr. The renaissance prayer book was not returned to the rothschild family until 1999. The rothschild prayer book is an acknowledged masterpiece of renaissance manuscript illumination. A lavishly illuminated medieval book of hours, which set the world auction record for illuminated manuscripts when it sold in 1999 for nearly. Seder tephilah leshachrith a small prayer book compiled.
Rothschild hours flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours c. See more ideas about prayer book, book of hours and most expensive book. Media in category rothschild prayerbook the following 26 files are in this category, out of 26 total. Soon thereafter the manuscript was offered for sale at christies in. Bidding was fierce among five bidders, and on route to setting an auction record for the most expensive illuminated manuscript ever sold, the book sold for close to. This manuscript belongs to a type of prayer book called a book of hours, which flourished in medieval europe. Prayer book gebedenboek joannes petrus waterloo and other art in the waterloo family. The rothschild prayer book or book of hours is a masterpiece of flemish renaissance art. The rothschild prayerbook is illuminated by several leading. A selection of the national librarys own medieval and renaissance treasures will complement the rothschild prayer book. The rothschild prayerbook, a book of hours, use of rome.
The rothschild prayer book certainly fell within this category then two days before the auction we knew he was thinking about bidding but nothing was definite and then just one day before the auction we received an email, yes, hes bidding. The rothschild prayer book, with renaissance illustrations, once sold for. Kerry stokes collection, perth, photography by acorn photo, perth australian capital equity pty limited fremantle. The prayer book returns to auction or the first time in 15 years alongside other renaissanceera pieces, including paintings by jacopo bassanos the adoration of the shepherds. In 1999, when the book was returned to the rothschilds, it was sold at auction for a world record price. Rothschild prayer book opening governor of victoria. This is an important cultural artefact, the flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, which was illustrated over the period c. It was once in the austrian national library in vienna as codex vindobonensis s. In addition to the many selections of anglojudaica, bibles, hagadahs, illustrated books, religious, liturgical and chassidic texts, there were. The exquisite rothschild prayer book, one of a handful of surviving netherlandish illuminated manuscripts produced in the early 1500s.
St vincent of saragossa and suffrage to st vincent, in the rothschild prayer book c. The rothschild prayerbook is illuminated by several leading miniaturists. Renaissance prayer book is set for auction the new york. Since its sale in 1999 it has held the world record price at auction for an illuminated manuscript.
Christies is honored to be entrusted with its sale for the second time. It sold to a mystery buyer, revealed only some 8 months later as mr stokes. Prior to founding kedem, both meron and avishai had been involved in the purchase and sale of antique jewish books, manuscripts and artifacts for several years. The rothschild prayer book national library of australia. See more ideas about art, landscape paintings, painting. Sign up to get a weekly email from indicates required. Renaissance prayer book is set for auction the new york times. Central to appreciating the rothschild prayer book is an understanding of its historical context. In 2014 it was purchased by australian businessman kerry. Made from vellum and lined with gold, the book features 67 fullpage miniatures created by flemish artists gerard horenbout, simon bening and gerard david. The rothschild prayerbook, which once set a record for the most expensive illuminated manuscript sold at auction, will again be offered for sale by christies. It was at that exhibition mr stokess initial interest in illuminated manuscripts started, recalls professor manion.
Artist, fine art prices, auction records for anton mauve anton mauve was blown away by. Since that time tom has served as director of americana auctions and senior historical specialist for heritage auctions. Companys april 3rd auction of fine judaica covered a broad spectrum of categories and interests. One component of the rothschild prayerbook that might reflect the wishes of a commissioning patron, are. National library announce viewing of rare rothschild. The price is still a record for an illuminated manuscript at auction.
Bettina looram bettina looram, who has died aged 88, was the last surviving member of the austrian branch of the rothschild family to have grown. Every aspect of this book of hoursfrom the quality of the parchment to the wealth and refinement of the decorationmarks the rothschild prayerbook as one of the most prestigious and exquisite examples of flemish manuscript illumination. Margaret manion, one of australias preeminent art historians, explains the rothschild prayer books significance within the context of books of hours, illustrating how this genre contained not only popular prayers, but some of the finest paintings of the middle ages. The rothschild prayerbook or rothschild hours both titles are used for other books, is an important flemish illuminated manuscript book of hours, compiled c. Revealing the rothschild prayer book national library of. In 1976 he became a fulltime dealer and auctioneer, and maintained a robust business in political and other collectors items until his company, slaters americana, was absorbed by heritage in 2004.
The highlight of the sale was an illuminated prayer book containing 67 fullpage miniatures that was produced in belgium in 1505. Tiny 10inch 16th century prayer book confiscated by the. Acquired for the kerry stokes collection in january 2014, this superb example of flemish book illumination will be on public display, for the first time in australia, in the treasures gallery. Acquired by the kerry stokes collection in 2014, it includes miniatures of unsurpassed beauty and refined execution by the most renowned and soughtafter illuminators of the era. Rothschild prayerbook wikipedia republished wiki 2. Not seen in public for centuries, the book was acquired at auction last year by the western australian billionaire.
931 276 614 937 719 347 285 1318 1482 1161 249 1370 675 971 1212 1231 530 319 155 598 1114 1009 24 766 1380 666 983 323 372 32 1122 1352 1467 9 1105 197 790 495 77 1087 446 896