Master of the Grandes Heures
Artists
A talented associate of the Master of the Bible of Jean de Sy painted nine of the ten large miniatures of the Grandes Heures, together with their bas-de-page scenes, as well as most of the small miniatures of the original campaign. Given his significant contribution, he is named the Master of the Grandes Heures. Active in Paris c. 1350-1380, he illuminated manuscripts for Charles V in the 1370s. He followed closely the Jean de Sy Master’s compositions, figure and facial types, palette and painting technique.
Presentation in the Temple with bas-de-page scene of the Miracle of the Sower (Hours of the Virgin, None)
The miniature exemplifies the tendency of the Master of the Grandes Heures to leave out architecture, even when the subject-matter requires it, and to include only minimal, essential props. The bas-de-page scene depicts an apocryphal story about the Holy Family’s flight to Egypt. Asked by one of King Herod’s soldiers whether he had seen the Holy Family pass, a peasant replied that they had come by when he was sowing. With his crops miraculously grown, the soldiers gave up their pursuit.