" This refers
to the celebrated "Hours of Anne of Brittany," now in the National
Library at Paris.
This volume, peerless of its kind, has been reproduced in colour
lithography by Curmer of Paris--the result, however, is disappointing
from the flat and faded look of the prints as compared with the
brilliancy of the original pages. The MS. is an invaluable monument of
French Renaissance illumination. It is French of Touraine rather than of
Paris, yet bearing traces in its flowers and fruit borders of Flemish
modes of ornament. It has also reminiscences of Italian painting. But
the French neatness and restraint from over-decoration have kept it in a
manner unique. It has not quite the softness of Italian, and is far from
the intensity of Flemish. Indeed, its fault, if it be faulty, is in its
want of force. With the exception of Anne's own portrait given with her
patrons, St. Anne, St. Helena, and St. Ursula. The Queen's gown is of
brown gold brocade trimmed with dark brown fur. Her hair is brown, like
the fur. She wears a necklace of gems set in gold. On her head is a
black hood edged with gold and jewels, beneath which and next her face
is a border of crimped white muslin, She has brown eyes and finely
pencilled eyebrows. As to nose and mouth, she and the two younger saints
are pretty much alike.
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