All the Saints appear in the French book Heurs of Louis de Laval (Hours of Louis de Leval), published in 1480.
Louis de Laval, an aristocrat and politician who served the French King Louis XI of France (1423–83), commissioned Jean de Colombe (c. 1430 – c. 1493) and other artists to illuminate the Christian manuscript’s 700 pages with 1,234 miniature paintings, of which 157 are full-page.
The book is a stupendous and spellbinding work of art. This dazzling book is now in the Bibliothèque nationale de France.
The God of Small Things
The detail in these miniature paintings is extraordinary. But why did poshos who could afford to produce massive works of art make these small things? The Roman philosopher Lucretius touched on a reason when he noted: “A small thing may give an analogy of great things, and show the tracks of knowledge.”
It’s about perfection, isn’t it? You look at these ornate, highly technical illustrations and keep spotting something new to focus on. Readers of Laval’s Book of Hours can see the religious text alongside the exquisite, minutely observed image. And all that gold leaf makes the imagery all the more startling.
Louis de Laval garnered numerous titles, including Governor of Dauphiné (1448-57), governor of Genova (1461) and councillor to King Louis XI of France.
Laval was more of a reader than a fighter, and when his elder brothers, Count Guy XIV de Laval and André de Lohéac, joined Joan of Arc’s campaign to clear the Loire of English and Burgundian forces in 1429 during The Hundred Years’ War (Guerre de Cent Ans (1337–1453), Louis stayed home with his mother.
As an aristo, of course he was soon attracting more jobs and titles. In 1431, he was made captain of Jugon by Duke John V of Brittany, and served Duke Peter II and the Constable Arthur de Richemont.
Afterwards, Louis sought to get on at the royal court. King Charles VII (22 February 1403 – 22 July 1461) appointed him governor of the Dauphiné in southeast France in 1448 and of French-occupied Genoa in 1461. On 4 August 1465, he was named governor of Champagne.
Louis and his brother André were among the original twelve knights of the Order of Saint Michael, created by Louis XI on 1 August 1469. In 1483, Louis was appointed governor of Touraine.
Louis died at Laval on 21 August 1489 and was buried there in the church of Saint-Tugdual.
Louis’s coat of arms, from his book of hours
Louis kneeling in prayer from his book of hours
God Creating Heaven and Earth from Laval’s Book of Hours
You can buy prints and cards of these sainted illustrations in the shop.
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