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Master of the Coronation Book of Charles V
( fl Paris, c. 1350–78). French illuminator. He worked primarily for the court and was the most prolific illuminator in Paris after the Master of the Boqueteaux, with whose workshop he often collaborated. His lively compositions, graphically delineated, are appealing for their juxtaposition of hues. The figures have a portrait-like quality, but no concern is shown for foreshortening or perspective. The Master’s earliest known illuminations are in a manuscript of the works of GUILLAUME DE MACHAUT (Paris, Bib. N., MS. fr. 1586). Shortly before 1356 he illustrated for King John II a Bible historiale (London, BL, Royal MS. 19 D. II). For the Dauphin, Charles, he produced the frontispiece of the Livre des neuf juges (1361; Brussels, Bib. Royale Albert 1er, MS. 10319) and the illustrations of another Bible historiale (1363; Paris, Bib. N., MS. fr. 5707). In 1365 for the same patron, now King Charles V, he executed 38 miniatures in a book recording the coronation ceremony (London, BL, Cotton MS. Tib. B. VIII). Among other volumes for Charles V, in 1375–6 the Master contributed to two copies of the Grandes Chroniques de France (Paris, Bib. N., MS. fr. 2813; Britain, priv. col.), to a copy of St Augustine’s City of God (Paris, Bib. N., MSS fr. 22912–3) and to manuscripts combining Aristotle’s Politics and the pseudo-Aristotelian Oeconomics (Paris, Waziers priv. col.; Brussels, Bib. Royale Albert 1er, MSS 11201–2). For Jean, Duc de Berry, he partially illustrated another copy of the Grandes Chroniques (sold London, Sotheby’s, 8 Dec 1981, lot 94). In 1376–8 he collaborated on the Grandes Heures of Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy (vol. 1: Cambridge, Fitzwilliam, MS. 3-1954; Brussels, Bib. Royale Albert 1er, MSS 11035–7; vol. 2: Brussels, Bib. Royale Albert 1er, MS. 13092); his work here shows signs of senescence and was completed by others.
Part of the Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists family
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