Representation of Wishes for the Prosperity of the Ducal Family of Brittany in the Fifteenth Century

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K00103
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 01040:History of thought-related
• Research Institution: Kansai University
• Principal Investigator: TANABE MEGUMI 関西大学, 東西学術研究所, 非常勤研究員 (30804091)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 時祷書 / ブルターニュ / キリスト教図像学 / 植物装飾 / 子宝祈願 / 弔い / 15世紀 / 中世末期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The meanings and functions of late medieval French iconography and ornament have not been fully explored. Traditional stylistics and iconography do not provide a complete understanding of the fusion of sacred and profane elements, the diverse iconographic sources, and the pan-European nature of the art style of this period. Through an examination of the 15th-century Books of Hours produced for the ducal family of Brittany from various perspectives, this study demonstrates that the representation of wishes for prosperity is achieved through intentional modification of Christian iconography and the symbolic function of secular iconography. This not only provides a valuable perspective and methodology for identifying the context of Books of Hours production but also shows that a comparative perspective between non-adjacent cultures can be beneficial in studying ancient cultures and societies.

Free Research Field

美術史学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

フランス中世末期の子孫繁栄祈願表象を考察した本研究の成果は、異なる専門分野を架橋することの学術的意義を示しただけではなく、キリスト教世界と古代ギリシャ・ローマ世界、ブルターニュ公国とフランス王国、写本文化と印刷文化といった様々な対立構造の境界が動態であり、そこに見いだせる「あいだ」という立ち位置こそが昨今の様々な次元の紛争解決への指針ともなり得る点で、人文系研究の社会的意義を示しているといえる。