The Facts
The J. Paul Getty Museum has released a new episode of its "Close Looking" video series featuring curator Larisa Grollemond examining a 1493 illuminated manuscript given to Anne of Brittany, duchess of Brittany and queen of France, likely as a wedding present. The manuscript, a translation of Ovid composed of epistolary poems about wronged heroines, includes one of the first known illustrations of Anne herself. It was made by the Master of the Chronique scandaleuse using tempera colors, gold, and ink, and is held in the Getty collection as Ms. 121 (2021.7), fol. 21. The episode highlights an illumination titled "Dido Mourns with Aeneas's Sword Before Her."
The Signal
The video series offers an insider perspective on works that curators personally cherish, providing context that goes beyond the object's surface. Grollemond's choice underscores the Getty's focus on medieval manuscripts and their relevance to discussions of female power and representation in the 15th-century French court. For collectors and scholars, the episode signals the museum's ongoing commitment to making its deep holdings of illuminated manuscripts accessible through digital storytelling, a strategy that broadens engagement with works that are often too fragile for frequent display.
- Artists: Master of the Chronique scandaleuse
- People: Larisa Grollemond, Anne of Brittany
- Museums: J. Paul Getty Museum
- Locations: Los Angeles
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