I just finished a fantastic book about Burgundy, and its place in the creation of the Low Countries as a political unity. The book (De Bourgondiërs by Bart Van Loo) has been very popular here in Flanders, especially for historical non-fiction. There's already a German translation You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
and an English translation is on the way with the publisher Head of Zeus.
Just to say, I'm in an "open to Burgundy" state of mind. In fact, the history and mythology of my home city is interwoven with Burgundy, because it is where Philip the Handsome married Joanna. On that very spot is still an establishment where people can organize their wedding feast.
That said, I still find it difficult to imagine how exactly Burgundy would fit into the picture.
The Zodiac emblems in the VM appear related to imagery from northern France, Alsace... Areas within or close to Burgundian territories. I am of the opinion that the clothing style is international "courtly" rather than strictly central European, which leaves Burgundy on the table as a strong contestant.
However, I don't see how the area owned by Burgundy under the reign of John the Fearless and Philip the Good accounts for everything we see in the VM. This area was not much more than the Burgundian homeland, Flanders (Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, Arras..) and later other parts of the Low Countries and Luxembourg.
More interesting in my opinion are the way courts in those days were interconnected. Burgundy had strong ties to the house of Bavaria. John the Pitiless of Bavaria was also active in the Low Countries (he employed Jan van Eyck for a while) but he also owned the area where modern day Austria, Germany and Czech Republic meet.
So what I'm saying is, these guys literally employed the same artists and advanced a shared material culture. Berry was also connected.
So I wonder, what do you mean precisely when you say there is a connection between Burgundy and the VM? The mere presence of relevant motifs, which can spread like memes from one court to the next? Or actual production in an area controlled by Burgundy?
and an English translation is on the way with the publisher Head of Zeus.
Just to say, I'm in an "open to Burgundy" state of mind. In fact, the history and mythology of my home city is interwoven with Burgundy, because it is where Philip the Handsome married Joanna. On that very spot is still an establishment where people can organize their wedding feast.
That said, I still find it difficult to imagine how exactly Burgundy would fit into the picture.
The Zodiac emblems in the VM appear related to imagery from northern France, Alsace... Areas within or close to Burgundian territories. I am of the opinion that the clothing style is international "courtly" rather than strictly central European, which leaves Burgundy on the table as a strong contestant.
However, I don't see how the area owned by Burgundy under the reign of John the Fearless and Philip the Good accounts for everything we see in the VM. This area was not much more than the Burgundian homeland, Flanders (Bruges, Ghent, Ypres, Arras..) and later other parts of the Low Countries and Luxembourg.
More interesting in my opinion are the way courts in those days were interconnected. Burgundy had strong ties to the house of Bavaria. John the Pitiless of Bavaria was also active in the Low Countries (he employed Jan van Eyck for a while) but he also owned the area where modern day Austria, Germany and Czech Republic meet.
So what I'm saying is, these guys literally employed the same artists and advanced a shared material culture. Berry was also connected.
So I wonder, what do you mean precisely when you say there is a connection between Burgundy and the VM? The mere presence of relevant motifs, which can spread like memes from one court to the next? Or actual production in an area controlled by Burgundy?