The art of miniature is on display in Turin

Scheduled until September 8th in Turin , at the Medieval Court of Palazzo Madama , 'Van Eyck and the Revealed Miniatures' reveals to the public the most precious nucleus of the collection of illuminated manuscripts of the Civic Museum of Ancient Art of Turin , composed of 20 codices, 10 incunabula and a rich collection of about 80 sheets and cut miniatures. In particular, curated by Simonetta Castronovo with the support of the University of Turin and the University of Eastern Piedmont , the exhibition showcases 50 masterpieces created between the 13th and 16th centuries.

The exhibition, divided into sections, opens with volumes published between the 13th and 14th centuries . Among these, the 'Statutes of the City of Turin' from 1360 stand out, a work of significant political value that collects the fundamental ordinances of city life. This is followed by two statutes of medieval corporations: the Matricola degli orefici and that of the Cordovanieri of Bologna. The section ends with a splendid 13th-century Bible , a masterpiece of Bolognese miniature. Among the refined liturgical books of Lombard Gothic on display, 'John the Baptist' made by a pupil of Michelino da Besozzo deserves particular attention. The French and Flemish 15th-century is represented by masterpieces such as the 'Très belles heures de Notre Dame' by Jean de Berry and the 'Book of Hours of Chalons-sur-Saône', attributed to Antoine de Lonhy. Also known as 'Heures de Turin-Milan', the work of Jean de Berry is considered the most precious treasure of the Civic Museum of Turin, thanks to the extraordinary miniatures created by Jan van Eyck. The meticulous realism, the use of light, the perspective rendering and the use of oil pigments foreshadow the distinctive characteristics of Flemish painting on wood. The 'Libro d'ore deloche' by the master of the Prince of Piedmont dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries and comes from the Duchy of Savoy . The fifth section, dedicated to the Renaissance , features the 'Missale' of Cardinal Domenico della Rovere', illuminated by Francesco Marmitta, and a rare 'Book of Hours' printed by Antoine Vérard with the first movable type. The itinerary ends with the singular calligraphy manual 'Libro di lettere astrologiche' created, probably, for the young Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy. The exhibition is accompanied by a systematic catalogue published by Artistica Editrice di Savigliano.