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Giovanni di Paolo, born in 1339, was born in Siena,Italy in a family of accomplished artists. When he was young, he impressed locals with his talent for art and creating manuscript illumination, with his use of vibrant color and detailed designs. At an earlier age, Giovanni was influenced by Gothic art, but he later incorporated the use of Renaissance elements such as religious symbols, vibrant color, and more realistic imagery. Giovanni’s illuminations, depicting religious symbols in texts and prayer books, were particularly praised. His works were purchased by the wealthy and important  religious figures such as cardinals. His masterpiece “Book Of Hours of Catherine of Siena” is richly decorated in gold leaf on its 162 pages to emphasize the divine. Giovanni’s work highlighted the important relationship between the divine and human nature through its use of religious symbols and metaphors. While he was passionate for illumination, he did other work such as altarpieces in Churches. Giovanni left an enduring legacy in the world of Medieval art and religious art in Italy and throughout the world.

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The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise

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The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise

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Giovanni's di Paolo's The Creation of the World and the Expulsion from Paradise, created in 1445, and on view at the MET, shows creativity paired with spirituality in art during the Medieval period. This illumination invokes wonder and imagination through its vivid storytelling and use of color. It uses tempera and gold on wood in intricate detail not only for the use of art, but to tell an important story. This artwork shows the talent, attention to detail, and hard labor these Medieval artists had during the time. Artists like Giovanni di Paolo did not only create art, but invoked emotions and storytelling their work as well as communicating to today's viewers how the period was. During the 15th century, people were starting to wonder about heavens as their lives were centered around religion and the divine. Artists during this time not only created art but told stories that reminded viewers of their place within the universe. This image shows the world before sin (Paradise) and inside the celestial globe (Earth) is four lines representing the four elements. The Garden of Paradise is seen as beautiful, natural, and pure and sinless with a depiction of Adam and Eve shows the beauty in humankind before sin. The use of color, gold leaf, intricate designs, and symbolic figures all tell an important story of our universe and our relationship with the divine.

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The Right Hand of God Protecting the Faithful against the Demons

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The Right Hand of God Protecting the Faithful against the Demons

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The "Hours of Étienne Chevalier" is a magnificent manuscript illumination from the 15th century, which uses detailed imagery to tell a story. This illumination shows a group praying and looking upwards at the divine hand of God in the sky, while demons run away in fear. It is truly stunning the amount of detail in this piece as it shows a realistic depiction of Paris at the time including the famous Notre Dame Cathedral, in its Gothic splendor as well as Saint-Chappelle. This illumination was used not only for beauty and to be admired by viewers but to tell the story of God defeating evil from the world as well as a visual depiction of medieval France. Creating a manuscript like this would take a lot of time, patience, and artistic talent to not only paint the scene but to invoke a sense of spirituality. It shows a deep trust and relationship with the divine through its use of gold leaf, rich scenery details, and tempera on parchment. Art during this time has the ability to connect human life with the divine and heaven with life on earth into a masterpiece.

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The Book of Hours of Jeanne d’Evreux is a perfect example of a 14th-century manuscript illumination, created by the French artist Jean Pucelle and was created for the queen of France. This small but detail book help her pray throughout the day. It contains scenes of Jesus Christ's life and Mary's life as well as a vivid depiction of the Passion of Christ. Even though it is small, the Book of Hours contains detailed and elaborate illustrations, gold leaf, and small vibrant paintings. Manuscripts such as this were made for the wealthy elite by highly skilled artists who can create a masterpiece worthy of their status in society. Many hours and craftsmanship went into making this small book which would require a high level of talent, skill, and patience. Masterpieces like this show the role of the divine in their lives in the Medieval era, even among royalty and the wealthy. The gold leaf and detailed depictions not only are impressive to the viewer for its artistic excellence, but invoke the importance of connecting the human experience to the divine. Book of Hours were Medieval prayer books used to pray at separate intervals to enhance and encourage personal prayer and devotion to God. This Book of Hours still is one of the most beautiful examples of Medieval illumination and an important piece of history.

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Manuscript Leaf with Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi

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Manuscript Leaf with Scenes from the Life of Saint Francis of Assisi

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This illuminated manuscript from the 14th century tells the story of St. Francis of Assisi, with its intricate detailing and elaborate use of gold leaf. The artist truly took the time to scribe and adorn this piece with decorative elements. It tells the story of humility, his miracles, and his deep respect for nature and his community. One of the images shows his stigmata, which is a physical representation of Jesus Christ's suffering of the Cross. The others shows him preaching to animals, taking care of the sick, and comforting the dying. St. Francis is purchased in a simple brown robe of the Franciscan order which shows his modesty, sacrifice, and devotion to God and his faith. The elaborate gilding of gold leaf, distinction colorization, and vivid designs show that this piece might have been owned by the wealthy elite of the time who shared values with the saint. In the beginning of his life, St. Francis of Assisi was wealthy himself but chose a humble life of service and piety instead. Working on this manuscript must have felt very important as the artist was bringing a sacred story of a saint to life for viewers.

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The Black Hours completed from 1460 and 1475 is one of the most visually stunning and unique illuminated manuscripts that have survived. The Black Hours get its name from the black-dyed 121 pages of vellum which is a very expensive and delicate material. The black of the pages makes the vibrant colors, gold leaf, and silver writing stand out to viewers. This manuscript, with its immense attention to detail and expensive materials, was mostly likely created for the wealthy who would use this Book of Hours to pray and inspire. This Book of Hours, while unique and immensely intricate in how it's made and color, has the same material as other Book of Hours of the time. There are visual depictions of the Virgin Mary, Jesus Christ, and many saints that adorn the pages, painted with excellent skill that would take many hours to create. Creating this manuscript would have been a very difficult process with its vellum use and dark pages to write and paint something of excellence. Its detailing and vibrant color invokes a sense of both luxury and a connection to the divine. This shows viewers today that the wealthy elite shared a passionate connection to the divine as well as the rest of Medieval society. Today the Black Hours is in the collection of the Morgan Museum and I seen as a masterpiece of manuscript illumination from the Gothic period and one of only seven Book of Hours that exist with black colored pages.