Ercole I d’Este - Imago Editore - L'Arte nel Breviario: edizione in facsimile - 2025

Art in the Breviary – Selection of miniatures from the Breviary of Ercole I d’Este

Copy number: XL

Facsimile edition of a selection of illuminated pages from the Breviary of Ercole I d’Este, preserved at the Estense Library University of Modena with shelf mark Ms. Lat. CCCCXXIV = Ms. V.G.11.

98 leaves

In Renaissance Ferrara, the Este court made the illuminated book an expression of culture, devotion, and prestige. After the famous Borso d’Este Bible, Ercole I wished to entrust a sumptuous Breviary with a new testament to the magnificence of the dynasty: a book destined for daily prayer, able at the same time to celebrate the rank of its patron.

Created in the early sixteenth century and completed in 1505 under his successor Alfonso I, the manuscript preserves in its decorations the passage between the two dukes. Sacred scenes, figurative initials, floral and animal friezes intertwine with the Este emblems, evoking a world in which the book was a precious asset to be safeguarded and contemplated.

The history of the Breviary follows the fortunes of the Este: from Ferrara to Modena, then to Vienna with the exile of Francesco V. Recognized by the bibliophile Tammaro De Marinis and purchased by the Italian State, the codex returned to Modena in 1939, where it is today kept.

This selection allows a close approach to the manuscript’s rich imagery and the charm of Renaissance illumination, offering a glimpse into the art and devotion of the Este court.

Complete copy in a fitted case.

Published by Imago - The Nobility of the Facsimile