DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.45257#0200
130 ART TREASURES OF THE MUSEE CONDE
hundreds of Italian and German incunabula. To
this famous library the Duke next added that of
M. Armand Cigongne, a collection composed almost
exclusively of works in French—volumes of prose
and poetry, exquisitely bound, and many of them
still bearing the coats-of-arms and book-plates of
former proprietors.
The most important acquisition, however, (added
in 1855), was the famous illuminated MS. known
as Les Tres Riches Heures du Due de Berry, an
unique example of primitive French Art, to a de-
scription of which we shall return later on.
In course of time other additions were made
of great value and interest: such as, for instance,
Les Fables de Marie de France, Le Roman d'As-
premont (thirteenth century), a copious selection of
ballads and songs of the fourteenth century, and
many other works of note, amongst them being a
copy in four volumes of the Songs of Laborde, illus-
trated with original designs by Moreau.
In the year 1861 the Due d’Aumale, for the
moderate sum of 14,000 francs, purchased from the
well-known connoisseur M. Reiset a collection of no
less than 380 drawings by Italian, Flemish, Dutch,
and German masters. Amongst these may be
specially noted : A Reading Monk, by Raphael
(hung in the Galerie du Logis), and a design, dated
approximately 1505, which approaches in execution
the St. Catherine in the Gallery of the Louvre.1
1 A sketch for the well-known picture of that Saint in the National
Gallery.
hundreds of Italian and German incunabula. To
this famous library the Duke next added that of
M. Armand Cigongne, a collection composed almost
exclusively of works in French—volumes of prose
and poetry, exquisitely bound, and many of them
still bearing the coats-of-arms and book-plates of
former proprietors.
The most important acquisition, however, (added
in 1855), was the famous illuminated MS. known
as Les Tres Riches Heures du Due de Berry, an
unique example of primitive French Art, to a de-
scription of which we shall return later on.
In course of time other additions were made
of great value and interest: such as, for instance,
Les Fables de Marie de France, Le Roman d'As-
premont (thirteenth century), a copious selection of
ballads and songs of the fourteenth century, and
many other works of note, amongst them being a
copy in four volumes of the Songs of Laborde, illus-
trated with original designs by Moreau.
In the year 1861 the Due d’Aumale, for the
moderate sum of 14,000 francs, purchased from the
well-known connoisseur M. Reiset a collection of no
less than 380 drawings by Italian, Flemish, Dutch,
and German masters. Amongst these may be
specially noted : A Reading Monk, by Raphael
(hung in the Galerie du Logis), and a design, dated
approximately 1505, which approaches in execution
the St. Catherine in the Gallery of the Louvre.1
1 A sketch for the well-known picture of that Saint in the National
Gallery.