The Anjou Bible (also known as the Bible of Robert of Anjou or Brussels Bible) is a lavishly illuminated manuscript Bible created in Naples between approximately 1340 and 1345. It was commissioned by Robert of Anjou, King of Naples (reigned 1309–1343), and is one of the most significant works of Neapolitan manuscript illumination from the Angevin period.
Description and Significance: The Anjou Bible is celebrated for its extraordinary artistic quality, extensive use of gold, and intricate iconography. It comprises two volumes containing the Old and New Testaments, along with prologues, commentaries, and marginal glosses. The illuminations, executed by a team of artists under the lead master known as the "Master of the Anjou Bible," exhibit a rich synthesis of French Gothic elegance and Italian stylistic elements, particularly from Sienese and Roman schools.
Key features include:
- Miniatures: Hundreds of large and small miniatures depicting biblical scenes, portraits of authors, and initial letters.
- Border Decorations: Elaborate borders filled with drolleries, grotesques, heraldic emblems (including the fleurs-de-lis of the Anjou dynasty), and intricate foliage.
- Iconography: The theological program often reflects the political and dynastic aspirations of Robert of Anjou, emphasizing his role as a just ruler and defender of the faith.
- Materials: Produced on high-quality parchment with pigments including lapis lazuli for blues and extensive gilding.
Artistic Context: The creation of the Anjou Bible highlights Naples as a vibrant center for art and culture during Robert's reign. The artists involved likely came from various regions, contributing to the eclectic and sophisticated style that characterizes the manuscript. It is considered a pinnacle of courtly art in southern Italy during the first half of the 14th century.
Current Location: Today, the Anjou Bible is housed in the Royal Library of Belgium (Bibliothèque royale de Belgique) in Brussels, under the shelfmark MS II 2524.