Diocesan Book of Hours

The very beautiful 15th century French book of hours.

Books such as this are the most common written items to have survived from medieval times. The Christian monastic tradition of reciting psalms and prayers at regular times through each day, was also followed by ordinary lay people, for whom books of hours were created by skilled craftsmen. Books such as this were clearly produced for the wealthy. However even their servants are known to have owned less elaborate versions.

The illustration here depicts the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple of Solomon, Jerusalem, to the priest Simeon, prompting his exclamation of praise to God. This is recorded in the gospels and in books of worship such as this, as the Nunc Dimitis, 'Now Lord let your servant depart in peace...'

Among its brilliantly coloured miniatures is one for September, which shows a person treading grapes. In addition to the treader and someone pouring grapes from a basket into a vat, a worker in the background enjoys a surreptitious tipple, adding a humorous touch.