Book of Hours (use of Rome)
In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment
Southern Netherlands, Bruges, c. 1450
37 full-page miniatures, 13 small miniatures, and 8 historiated initials by the Gold Scrolls Painter of Berlin, Kunstbibliothek, MS Grisebach, 4
This Book of Hours is exceptionally rich both in ancillary texts (it is almost 400 folios thick) and in illustration, including nearly sixty pictures. Otherwise unidentified, the original owner, who was a Franciscan Tertiary, is represented twice in the manuscript.
BOOK OF HOURS (Use of Rome and of Sainte-Waudru, the Collegiate Church in Mons)
In Latin, illuminated manuscript on parchment
Southern Netherlands, Mons (Hainaut), c. 1460-70
8 large and 2 small miniatures by the Master of Philippe of Cröy and 2 large grisaille miniatures by the Master of Girart de Roussillon (Jehan Dreux) or a close collaborator
Of a rare liturgical use, this Book of Hours was likely commissioned by a noble family who were either donors to the collegiate church of Sainte-Waudru of Mons; a religious community of women from principally noble families, or who had a daughter who was a canoness there.
Françoise Fortin Hours (Use of Lisieux and Rouen)
In Latin and French, illuminated manuscript on parchment
France, Rouen, c. 1480
11 miniatures by a follower of the Master of the Echevinage of Rouen
France, Tours or Le Mans, late 1470s-c. 1480
12 miniatures (7 in camaïeu d’or) by Jean Bourdichon and possibly a related artist
Here is a highly personalized large-format Book of Hours that has many remarkable textual and pictorial features. It was certainly made for a woman, for the text was clearly adapted to her, including not only prayers in the feminine case but the unusual interpolation of the Suffrage for St. Margaret, patron saint of childbirth, within the Hours of the Virgin.
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"Books of Hours Reconsidered" by S. Hindman, J. Marrow (eds.) order your copy from Brepols.
VIDEO
S. Hindman and K. Goepfert confront a range of questions which one should consider when buying a Book of Hours.
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Dr. Hindman talks to the Antique trade Gazette about the market for illuminated manuscripts.
This site presents Books of Hours, the medieval “bestseller,” for sale by Les Enluminures.
It includes full descriptions and images for every Book of Hours on the site. Examples represent a wide range of Books of Hours available on the market, manuscripts made in France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and Italy and dating from c. 1400 to c. 1540. Some printed Books of Hours are included. Tutorials offer tools for learning more about Books of Hours. Visitors can search by artist, country, date, price range, and reference number.
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