Unknown
Leaf from a Book of Hours, ca. 1425
Manuscript
Brown and black ink, gouache and gold on vellum
7 1/8 in. x 5 3/8 in. (18.1 cm x 13.65 cm)
Gift of Emily Sibley Watson, 37.55
MEDIEVAL ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPTS
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A book of hours is a hand-held, often quite decorated book of devotional Christian texts intended for private use. First compiled in the thirteenth century, books of hours became extremely popular and were the best-selling Medieval book by the fourteenth century.
Books of hours are particularly interesting because, unlike most other Medieval books, they were owned and used by people from all social classes. These books were owned by wealthy people who might have had large book collections, as well as by those who could barely read.
Books of hours were dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The core of the texts consists of a series of short Offices, called the Hours of the Virgin. Each hour was meant to be recited at one of the eight canonical hours (Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline). Taking only several minutes to read, each Office consists of a hymn, three psalms, a short reading and a prayer. The remaining components of books of hours are not standard because of regional variations and specific patrons' wishes.
Each Office opens with an illuminated initial and usually an illustration. This leaf is for the beginning of the Office read at Matins, the first canonical hour of each day, celebrated at either midnight or 2:30 am. Pairing an illustration of the Crucifixion with the Office of Matins, as seen here, was common.
The dominating blue, green, red and gold color scheme is characteristic of late-Medieval (Gothic) illuminations, which tend to resemble the style of contemporaneous stained glass windows. Also, like Gothic sculpture, the figures flanking Jesus are given a sense of movement by their drapery and twisting positions.
Text:Lord, open Thou my lips
and my mouth shall show forth
Thy praise
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