The Boucicaut Master: An Anonymous Genius of Early Gothic The Boucicaut Master, or Master of the Hours for Marshal Boucicaut, remains one of the most enigmatic figures in Northern European manuscript illumination—a testament to artistic brilliance achieved without a traceable name. Active between 1400 and 1430 in Paris, he operated within the vibrant International Gothic style, a period characterized by opulent decoration and meticulous detail, reflecting both religious devotion and aristocratic patronage. His fame rests primarily on his magnificent illuminated Book of Hours for Jean II le…