MINIATURIST, French
(active c. 1475)

Le Chansonnier Cordiforme (Chansonnier de Jean de Montchenu)

c. 1475
Manuscript, heart-shaped (MS Rothschild 2973), 220 x 160 mm
Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris

This exceptional manuscript is shaped like a heart when closed; when open it becomes two hearts joined, representing two lovers who send love messages to one another in each one of the songs. The music repertoire consists of French and Italian songs written by Dufay, Ockeghem, Busnois and their contemporaries.

Two full-page illustrations appear in the codex. In the first, Cupid throws arrows at a young girl while at his side Fortune spins his wheel. In the other, two lovers approach one another lovingly. The image presented here shows the former.




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