Master of the House-Book

The Master of the House-Book is the professional appellation assigned to an anonymous artist specializing in manuscript illumination during the late 15th century. Documented activity places the artist within the short span of 1475 to 1480.

The artist is credited with the execution or decoration of fifteen books, which are held in international collections. These works establish the Master of the House-Book as a significant contributor to late medieval book arts. The historical importance of the work is confirmed by the preservation of examples in prominent collections, including the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Works attributed to the artist represented in institutional databases include the manuscript pages associated with the Gospel Book with Evangelist Portraits, along with several associated illuminated components, such as decorated initials. These fragments offer insight into the artist’s precise hand and decorative style. While the original texts are extremely rare, documentation related to the Master of the House-Book prints and illustrations is often accessible to researchers and the public. Because of the age of the original artifacts, the images frequently reside within the public domain, allowing for the creation of high-quality prints and related reproductions for study and display.