Jean Japart remains one of the great unknowns of the Franco-Flemish school of the late 15th century, despite the fact that his music contains unexpected turns, daring harmony and bold movement structures. All that we know about Japart´s life is that he was employed for a certain period (1447-1480?) at the court in Ferrara. He must have been well-known during his lifetime as the great Josquin de Prez honours him in a personal motet lamenting his death.