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he
history of the Borja, which spans over 100 years, is hard to
believe beyond any legend or myth. They were a family
belonging to the small Valencian aristocracy that in less than
half a century attributed two popes -Calixto III and Alexander
VI- and a dozen cardinals to the Roman Church. They therefore
held the central position of the Church's power for many
years. In other words they represented the epicentre of
Renaissance Rome and even Europe. They married off their
children to reigning families, they became the leading figures
in the fight for supremacy in Italy, they were the source of
numerous sacrileges, unlike any the pope would have to
experience in years to come. Bringing an end to the incredible
spiral of events gave rise to the great saint, San Francisco
de Borja, general of the Society of Jesus at the height of the
Counter-Reformation.
- Executed by the artists from its best school: Gerard
David, Horembout and some others.
- Ordered by Rodrigo de Borja, "Pope Borgia", at the end
of the 15th Century.
- It consists of 420 pages illuminated with gold and
silver, 84 great miniatures, numerous images decorated with
floral, animal, fruit and architechtonical motif
- Dimensions: 185 x 135 mm. Vellum.
- World edition -unique and unrepeatable- limited to 999
copies certified and numbered before a
notary.
Preserved at the "Bibliothèque Royale
de Belgique"
A Documentation Kit containing 2 sample pages, in the original size, from The Book of Hours of Alexander VI is available for $US75-. An Art Book is also available for $US140-.
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