Revealing the Rothschild Prayer

Book c. 15051510
from the Kerry Stokes Collection
The Rothschild Prayer Book, an early sixteenth-century book of hours owned for many years by
the famous Rothschild family, was produced during the last great flourishing of manuscript
illumination. The Renaissance masterpiece includes paintings of unsurpassed beauty and refined
execution by some of the most sought-after Flemish illuminators of the early sixteenth century,
including Gerard Horenbout and Simon Bening. Among its highlights are splendid paintings of
popular saints such as Mary Magdalene, shown with the vase of ointment with which tradition says
she anointed Christ.
Featuring 67 full-page miniatures, the prayer book is further decorated throughout with borders of
flowers, insects and biblical and mythical characters. Background landscapes and interior settings
are rich in realistic detail.
Acquired for the Kerry Stokes Collection in January 2014, this superb example of Flemish book
illumination will be on display for the first time ever in Australia in the Treasures Gallery. A
selection of the National Librarys own medieval manuscripts and Renaissance treasures will
complement the Rothschild Prayer Book.

Revealing the Rothschild Prayer Book c. 15051510 from the Kerry Stokes Collection
22 May9 August 2015
Daily, 10 am5 pm
Free Exhibition
Media Enquiries:
Sally Hopman, 02 6262 1704 or 0401 226 697
Please Note:
Images in this PDF are provided at approximately A4 @ 300dpi.
To extract the images from this PDF for reproduction, Adobe Acrobat Professional or
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Image captions
Virgin and Child on a crescent
moon and The seven joys of
the Virgin, fols 197v198r in the
Rothschild Prayer Book c.
15051510, Kerry Stokes
Collection, Perth

Hours of the Holy Spirit, fols

37v38r in the Rothschild
Prayer Book c. 15051510,
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth

The Mass of All Saints, fols

46v47r in the Rothschild
Prayer Book c. 15051510,
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth

The Annunciation and The

beginning of matins, fols 84v
85r in the Rothschild Prayer
Book c. 15051510, Kerry
Stokes Collection, Perth

St Francis receives the

stigmata and Suffrage to St
Francis, fols 225v226r in the
Rothschild Prayer Book c.
15051510, Kerry Stokes
Collection, Perth

St Susanna and the Elders and

Suffrage to St Susanna, fols
234v235r in the Rothschild
Prayer Book c. 15051510,
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth

St Vincent of Saragossa and

Suffrage to St Vincent, fols
238v239r in the Rothschild
Prayer Book c. 15051510,
Kerry Stokes Collection, Perth