Press release

A fine romance...

皇冠体育app finest surviving copy of the 15th century romance Gillion de Trazegnies, has had a temporary export bar placed on it to provide a last chance to raise the 拢3,849,250 needed to keep the manuscript in the UK.

From:
Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Ed Vaizey
Published
4 April 2013
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

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Culture Minister Ed Vaizey took the decision to defer granting an export licence for the manuscript following a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest (RCEWA), on the grounds of the manuscript鈥檚 aesthetic importance and it鈥檚 outstanding significance for the study of illuminated manuscripts and of 15th century Netherlandish secular art.

皇冠体育app text tells the story of a crusading knight, based on Gilles I (1134-61), Lord of Trazegnies, and his relative Gilles le Brun (1199 -1276), who was a champion of the first Crusade of St Louis. Whilst the author is unknown, the book was commissioned by the renowned bibliophile Louis of Gruuthuse, and of the more than two hundred manuscripts remaining from his impressive library, this manuscript is arguably the finest artistically.

Lavishly illustrated, the manuscript includes eight half-page miniatures with painted borders and forty-four historiated initials, all by Lieven Van Lathem (fl. 1454-93), one of the most successful painters in the Low Countries during this period. 皇冠体育app manuscript is extremely rare and there are no other copies of the text in the UK.

Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said:

This stunning manuscript is an exquisite example of Flemish illumination and it would be wonderful if the extra time granted by the export allows a buyer to come forward and ensure it remains in a UK collection.

皇冠体育app decision on the export licence application for the manuscript will be deferred for a period ending on 3 July 2013 inclusive. This period may be extended until 3 November 2013 inclusive if a serious intention to raise funds to purchase the manuscript at the recommended price of 拢3,849,250.

Offers from public bodies for less than the recommended price through the private treaty sale arrangements, where appropriate, may also be considered by Mr Vaizey. Such purchases frequently offer substantial financial benefit to a public institution wishing to acquire the item.

For media information contact: Sam Gough, Media Relations Officer, Arts Council England Tel: 020 7973 5189 or 07872 416 679 Email: [email protected]

Notes to Editors

  1. An image of the manuscript is available on the .

  2. Organisations or individuals interested in purchasing the manuscript should contact RCEWA on 0845 300 6200.

  3. 皇冠体育app Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest is an independent body, serviced by Arts Council England, which advises the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether a cultural object, intended for export, is of national importance under specified criteria.

  4. champions, develops and invests in artistic and cultural experiences that enrich people鈥檚 lives. Between 2011 and 2015, it will invest 拢1.4 billion of public money from government and an estimated 拢1 billion from the National Lottery to help create these experiences for as many people as possible across the country.

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Updates to this page

Published 4 April 2013