Livros de Horas na corte de Avis revisão de leituras e novos contributos, em busca de formas de piedade medieval

Abstract

We take up here the study of three Books of Hours from the 15th century in Portuguese collections: the Prayer Book of D. João I, the Book of Hours of D. Duarte, and the Book of Hours of D. João II, the latter only recently revealed to the public. We look at less noted particularities and reflect on contexts of cultural integration: the figure of Alfonso de Cartagena and his relations with D. Duarte is the key and cut-off point for dating the case of D. Duarte’s Book of We take up here the study of three Books of Hours from the 15th century in Portuguese collections: the Prayer Book of D. João I, the Book of Hours of D. Duarte, and the Book of Hours of D. João II, the latter only recently revealed to the public. We look at less noted particularities and reflect on contexts of cultural integration: the figure of Alfonso de Cartagena and his relations with D. Duarte is the key and cut-off point for dating the case of D. Duarte’s Book of We take up here the study of three Books of Hours from the 15th century in Portuguese collections: the Prayer Book of D. João I, the Book of Hours of D. Duarte, and the Book of Hours of D. João II, the latter only recently revealed to the public. We look at less noted particularities and reflect on contexts of cultural integration: the figure of Alfonso de Cartagena and his relations with D. Duarte is the key and cut-off point for dating the case of D. Duarte’s Book of Hours, but never taken into account; we also look at details never examined in João I’s Prayer Book which will have also passed through the hands of the prince; we also stress some particular traits in the life of piety of King João II from traits revealed in his Book of Hours, knowledge of which has recently been made public, and we emphasize exceptional personal qualities of this king, called “the Man” by Isabella the Catholic when they gave her the news of his passing. We dedicate this study to Gemma Avenoza, a scholar who came to Lisbon to attend our classes in Codicology at the Faculdade de Letras and who distinguished herself in identifying and recovering manuscript fragments, integrating them in their cultural context.