Livre de portraiture villard de honnecourt drawings

Rediscovered in the 19th century, the sketchbook of Villard de Honnecourt quickly captivated historians and art enthusiasts as one of the most fascinating works of the Middle Ages. But who was Villard, and what inspired him to create this extraordinary collection of drawings?

Little is known about Villard beyond the tantalising clues within the sketchbook itself.

Living in 13th-century northern France, he describes travelling to distant lands, including Hungary. Once thought to be an architect, Villard is now considered more likely to have been a skilled craftsman – possibly a carpenter.

His sketchbook, originally containing more pages than the surviving 33 sheets of parchment, appears to have been a personal or professional guide, filled with over 250 images of people, animals, objects, and buildings.

Villard’s artistic talent and keen observational skills are evident throughout the collection.

Each page reveals something unique about medieval art, design, and imaginati