Borso d'Este

As a member of the noble House of Este, Borso d'Este (1413–1471) was Duke of Ferrara and Modena, where he ruled from 1450 until his death. 
As a famous patron of the arts, that he considered a powerful propaganda tool to promote his political ambitions by projecting an image of personal magnificence, he portrayed himself as an ideal ruler as for example in the frescoes in his Palazzo Schifanoia.
His traditional image as a magnanimous patron of the arts as was later proclaimed in Ludovico Ariosto's poem Orlando Furioso is of course an idealized representation.
Although he was one of the wealthiest people on Earth, while spending extravagantly on culture and spectacle to promote his political image, he was only generous with the artists he personally patronized and whom he considered worthy of special consideration.

This personal book that Borso d'Este commissioned in 1455 is one of the most magnificent illuminated manuscripts of the High Renaissance and a fabulously costly work of art.
It was intended as a demonstration of the splendor of the House of Este, which at the time was competing with Florence and the court of the Medici for international status and prestige. 
The book consists of more than 1,000 individual illuminations on leaves that are all richly illuminated with painted vignettes that portray themes from history, mythology, geography, astronomy and various other sciences as well as scenes of nature and wildlife.

It goes without saying that special emphasis was made on lavish illustration and abundant decoration rather than on text.
The beginning of each chapter is decorated with elaborate architectural borders and richly colored designs.
The illuminations are by a team of artists led by Taddeo Crivelli and Franco dei Russi that also included Girolamo da Cremona, Marco dell'Avogadro and Giorgio d'Alemagna.
The text was written in a fine Renaissance hand by the Bolognese scribe Pietro Paolo Marone.

In 1598, following the transfer of Ferrara to papal control, the Estense family abandoned Ferrara for its new seat of ducal power in Modena, taking with them their paintings, sculptures and books.
Their books remained in Modena until 1859, when the city became part of the new Kingdom of Italy and Francesco d'Austria-Este fled to Vienna, taking with him many family possessions, including this book.
In 1923, the industrialist Giovanni Treccani degli Alfieri acquired the book from an antiquarian bookseller and as a sign of respect for the Republic of Italy, he returned it to the Biblioteca Estense in Modena.

The editiors and publishers wish to thank the Biblioteca Estense in Modena for providing high-resolution images and their kind permission to reproduce and publish this work of art.
This magnificent personal book of Borso d'Este represents the absolute zenith of miniature painting and the climax of High Renaissance manuscript illumination.