Liturgy of the hours

During the Middle Ages many manuscripts with illuminated illustrations were created in monasteries. Usually on vellum (especially prepared animal skin), but also in some early printed books on paper, materials such as gold, silver and lapis lazuli were used to achieve the intense colours of the decorations. Illuminations appeared in one or more sections of the manuscript. Initial letters were frequently particularly decorative, containing scenes, or elaborate decoration. Miniatures (small pictures) occupied the whole page or were incorporated into the text, and borders were commonly composed of decorative motifs.

Books of Hours contained appropriate prayers and readings for the hours of the day prescribed for worship, which are the same as those followed in the Antiphonal: Vespers, Matins, Lauds and so on. They could be decorated in a manner befitting the wealth and position of the owner, and designed to the owner's taste. A book of hours was a personal prayer book, and therefore usually pocket-sized. They have been described as 'the late medieval best-seller.'

The text of this prayer book is printed on vellum in Gothic type, but every page also contains a decorative gold border. Fourteen full-page hand-coloured illustrations of scenes from the life of Christ are featured. The contemporary brown morocco binding is stamped with the name of Katerine Blerye and the date 1587.

Permission to use this item for any purpose, including publishing, is not required from the State Library under these conditions of use.

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