Medieval Books of Hours

Hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
none

Presentation in the Temple
Follower or Associate of Jean Fouquet
“Bigot” Hours for Rome use, France, Tours or Le Mans, c. 1470 (Les Enluminures, f. 32).

Circumcision
Hours for Arras use, France, probably Arras, c. 1310 (New York, The Pierpont Morgan Library, MS G.59, f. 39r).

hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
None

Presentation in the Temple
Follower or Associate of Jean Fouquet

The Hour of None is traditionally illustrated by an image of Christ’s Presentation in the Temple. The version reproduced here is exceptional for its quality and its technique of camaieu d’or painted in gold on black. In spite of its small size, the miniature is executed with exquisite detail showing Mary and Joseph before the altar at which the High Priest Simeon presents the Child.

Once attributed to the great French painter Jean Fouquet (c. 1415-20-c. 1481), this manuscript, which has a sister in the Comites Latentes Collection, was surely illuminated by a close and gifted associate. Fouquet perfected the camaieu d’or technique and used it for his enameled gold on black self-portrait in the Louvre in Paris. The scribe worked on other Fouquet manuscripts.

“Bigot” Hours for Rome use, France, Tours or Le Mans, c. 1470 (Les Enluminures, f. 32).

hours of the Virgin
Infancy cycle
NOne

Circumcision

The traditional Presentation in the Temple for the Hour of None is sometimes replaced by an image of Christ's Circumcision. Here, the Virgin steadies the struggling Child for the operation; behind her a woman holds a candle and Joseph the basket of sacrificial pigeons. The image is couched within the large “D” with which the Hour begins (“Deus in adjutorium meu(m) intende...;” O God, come to my aid). The historiated initial is characteristic of High Gothic illumination. The background is made up of finely tooled, burnished gold and alternating blue and red areas upon which delicate diaper patterns have been applied. The elegant figures retain the gentle “sway” so typical of Gothic figures. Their heads are painted porcelain white with features delicately penned in with ink.

The manuscript is a fragment. It is roughly the second half of what was originally a Psalter-Hours, a manuscript that combined the full Psalter with the Hours of the Virgin and other prayers.

Hours for Arras use, France, probably Arras, c. 1310 (New York, The Pierpont Morgan Library, MS G.59, f. 39r).


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