Abstract
We present here the combination of in situ non invasive techniques to investigate a precious 15th century illuminated manuscript of Petrarch’s work, De remediis utriusque fortunae held in the Méjanes library in Aix-en-Provence (France). X-Ray fluorescence spectroscopy, mapping and point analysis, and visible reflectance hyperspectral imaging allow an unprecedented analysis of this manuscript. They provide new clues for its attribution by revealing a partly hidden coat of arms and describing the illuminator’s palette and techniques in detail. We reveal the identity of the first possessor of this manuscript, Tanguy IV du Châtel, known as a 15th century bibliophile close to Louis XI. This information is a further element contributing to the attribution of the richly illuminated folio 6 of this manuscript to François Le Barbier. Pigments and dyes used for this folio have been investigated with particular emphasis on the study of the superimposed colours thus providing a better understanding of the artist’s technique and know-how.
Highlights
In 1366, Petrarch wrote a major work, De remediis utriusque fortunae, at the crossroads of morality, philosophy and religion
Several 15th century French manuscripts have been studied by different groups: among them, the Book of Hours of the Parisian maître Boucicaut [8] and later, three Books of Hours preserved in the Palacio Nacional de Mafra [9], all based on point analyses and reconstructions
They reveal an interesting co-localization of different elements; the results were difficult to interpret as only selected zones and not the entire page could be Identification of the main pigments: qualitative analysis The palette is consistent with what is known to be a 15th century miniature palette [8, 9]: brazil wood lake, vermilion in mixtures, lapis-lazuli, lead white, verdigris, ochre, gold, ink
Summary
In 1366, Petrarch wrote a major work, De remediis utriusque fortunae, at the crossroads of morality, philosophy and religion. It is a collection of exempla: each chapter presents a specific situation, and explains how to react when faced to fortune, in the first book, or misfortune, in the second book. The successful combination of MA-XRF scanning and reflectance hyperspectral imaging can be of great help for pigment identification in illuminated manuscripts, providing in some cases new clues about their origin or even the identity of the illuminator [3]. The results highlighted characteristic French traditional practice such as the use of Brazilwood red lakes in glazes
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