Medieval Books of Hours

Hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
Matins

Annunciation and Visitation
Master of Beatrijs van Assendelft’s “Vita Christia’ Book of Hours for Windesheim use, The Netherlands, Delft, c. 1480-90 (Private Collection, f. 7v).

Marriage of the Virgin and the Annunciation
Followers of Jean Bourdichon and Jean Poyer
Book of Hours for Rome use, Northern France, Paris, c. 1490-1500 (Private Collection, ff. 5v-6).

Tree of Jesse and Annunciation
Master of Anne of Brittany
Printed Horae for Rome use, Paris, Thielman Kerver, 21 April 1505 [Almanach for 1497-1520] (Private Collection, ff. b8v-C1).

hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
Matins

Annunciation and Visitation
Master of Beatrijs van Assendelft’s “Vita Christia’

The eight Hours of the Virgin in most Books of Hours are illustrated by the awe-inspiring events in the Virgin’s life surrounding the Infancy of Christ. The pictures functioned as picture gallery, meditation aid, and bookmarks (most Books of Hours were originally neither foliated nor paginated). The first Hour, Matins, is traditionally marked by an Annunciation, which faces a picture of the Visitation (for Lauds). The theme of Christ’s Incarnation is echoed through Matin’s invitatory, hymn, antiphons, Psalms, and lessons.

This manuscript for a female patron (perhaps Beatrijs van Assendelft herself) emerges as one of the landmarks of Dutch golden age painting. The artist is named after a Vita Christi in Cambridge (Fitzwilliam Museum, MS 25), which was made in c. 1480 for Beatrijs van Assendelft. His skillful miniatures are often accompanied by profuse border illumination, as occurs here.

Book of Hours for Windesheim use, The Netherlands, Delft, c. 1480-90 (Private Collection, f. 7v).

hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
Matins

Marriage of the Virgin and the Annunciation
Followers of Jean Bourdichon and Jean Poyer

While the Hours of the Virgin usually open with a single picture of the Annunciation, some deluxe manuscripts treat their readers, as here, to double-page spreads. On the left the Marriage of the Virgin faces the Annunciation on the right. The angel interrupts Mary while she is reading, and above, the tiny Christ Child with a cross directly refers to the Incarnation. The three-quarter length figures bring the action closer to the reader’s space and thus heighten the emotional impact.

Several artists collaborated on this fascinating Book of Hours. On the left, the camaieu d’or miniatures, painted with a limited palette, betray the influence of the psychologically perceptive style of Jean Poyer (fl. 1483-1503). On the right, a gifted follower of the leading French Renaissance painter Jean Bourdichon (1457-1521) of Tours, painted the scene.

Book of Hours for Rome use, Northern France, Paris, c. 1490-1500 (Private Collection, ff. 5v-6).

hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
Matins

Tree of Jesse and Annunciation
Master of Anne of Brittany

It is with Books of Hours printed in Paris by Philippe Pigouchet and Thielman Kerver that the art of the printed Horae achieved late Gothic perfection. The pages are harmoniously laid out, graced by metalcuts designed by the work of the Master of Anne of Brittany. Pairs of facing images mark major textual divisions. Matin’s traditional Annunciation is juxtaposed with a Tree of Jesse, an illustration showing the Savior’s lineage extending from Jesse, the father of David, through David, to Mary and Jesus Christ at the apex of the tree.

Hand-colored, with extensive use of gold leaf, this Book of Hours exemplifies the transition between the late Gothic and the Renaissance and the symbiotic coexistence of the manuscript and the early printed book.

Printed Horae for Rome use, Paris, Thielman Kerver, 21 April 1505 [Almanach for 1497-1520] (Private Collection, ff. b8v-C1).


1.	Calendar	Labors Zodiac
2.	Gospel Lessons	John on Patmos Luke Matthew Mark
3.	Hours of the Virgin
	Infancy cycle
	Matins	Annunciation
	Lauds	Visitation
	Prime	Nativity
	Terce	Annunciation to Shepherds
	Sext	Adoration of Magi
	None	Presentation
	Vespers	Flight into Egypt or Massacre of the Innocents
	Compline	Coronation of the Virgin or Flight into Egypt or Massacre of the Innocents
	Passion cycle
	Matins	Agony
	Lauds	Betrayal
	Prime	Christ before Pilate
	Terce	Flagellation
	Sext	Christ Carrying the Cross
	None	Crucifixion
	Vespers	Deposition
	Compline	Entombment

4.	Hours of the Cross	Crucifixion
	Hours of the Holy Spirit	Pentecost
5.	"Obsecro te''	Virgin and Child
	"O intemerata''	Lamentation or Pietà
6.	Penitential Psalms	David in Penance or David and Bathsheba or Christ Enthroned or Last Judgment
7.	Office of the Dead	Praying Office of the Dead or Burial or Last Judgment or Job on the Dungheap or Raising of Lazarus or Lazarus and Dives or Death Personified or Three Living and Three Dead
8.	Suffrages	Saint with attribute or Episode from life of the Saint
9.	Accessory Texts	various