The Master of Girard Acarie decorated Books of Hours, but he also collaborated with poets and musicians on other types of texts, including collections of poetry and music.
He applied colours in an exuberant Renaissance style, combining naturalistic floral borders with architectural frames, putti, medallions and other decorative motifs, but he was also skilled in grisaille, a medium well-suited to the sombre tone of Lieur’s Poème sur la Passion. He appears to have been solely responsible for the miniature of the Flagellation (MS 355-1984) which is the only one of the Fitzwilliam’s five images to display the twisted poses, exaggerated musculature and elaborate costumes characteristic of his work. The Flagellation also contains delicate white shading, undulating outlines and gold highlights, which are reduced to schematic, linear patterns in the other miniatures.
