Jean Bourdichon

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Bourdichon, Jean (c.1457–1521). French painter and manuscript illuminator, Fouquet's successor as the leading French painter of the time. He was active in Tours, where he worked for several royal patrons, including Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Anne of Brittany, who married both these kings in turn. For Anne, Bourdichon produced his most celebrated work—the Hours of Anne of Brittany (completed 1508, Bib. Nat., Paris), one of the loveliest of all Books of Hours. It contains numerous exquisite borders of plants and insects, together with 49 full-page miniatures (originally there were probably two more)—mainly scenes from the New Testament and lives of the saints, but also including a portrait of Anne at prayer. Some of the religious scenes show such strong Italianate influence that it seems almost certain Bourdichon had visited Italy. Bourdichon is recorded as having painted works on a larger scale, but apart from a triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, all his other known works are manuscript illuminations. He effectively ends the great French tradition in this art.

Bourdichon, Jean (b ?Tours, c.1457; d Tours, 1521). French painter and manuscript illuminator, Fouquet's successor as the leading French painter of the time. He was active in Tours, where he worked for several royal patrons, including Charles VIII, Louis XII, and Anne of Brittany, who married both these kings in turn. For Anne, Bourdichon produced his most celebrated work—the Hours of Anne of Brittany (completed 1508, Bib. Nat., Paris), one of the loveliest of all Books of Hours. It contains numerous exquisite borders of plants and insects, together with 49 full-page miniatures (originally there were probably two more)—mainly scenes from the New Testament and lives of the saints, but also including a portrait of Anne at prayer. Some of the religious scenes show strong Italianate influence and it is possible that Bourdichon had visited Italy. He is recorded as having painted works on a larger scale, but apart from a triptych of the Madonna and Child with Saints in the Museo di Capodimonte, Naples, all his other known works are manuscript illuminations. He effectively ends the great French tradition in this art.