Is it possible that those 'Parisian' works, especially those for the Duke of Berry, were created by the same workshop / artists, or at least that the artists of the later works had sketchbooks with the illustrations of earlier works?
There is a possible connection from Franco-Flemish artists and illuminators around the Limbourg Brothers, who created the Duke of Berry's manuscripts, to Italy and Taccola's circle via You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login to view.. This is probably how Taccola got the inspiration for his sun-star, which Paolo used extensively. However, I haven't been able to fin any famous Franco-Flemish artists who visited Italy during this time. But a lot of young artists and craftsmen from all over Europe went to Italy to study.
You are not allowed to view links.
Register or
Login to view.
I have not seen a reverse connection from Taccola to France or Burgundy and the Valois- which would also be too late for the VM. So my proposed connection would be that one or several artists who had been involved in the mentioned Franco-Flemish works traveled to Italy and influenced the VM artist there. One of the many mysteries surrounding the VM is how the artist gained access to so many top-notch manuscripts to copy from. I think it is more likely that he copied from artists sketchbooks than from the finished manuscripts in royal libraries or collections. But all of this is little more than speculations...