Flemish Books of Hours (1451-1500)

For three hundred years, from c. 1250 to c. 1550, the Book of Hours was the most popular manuscript of the late Middle Ages and the Renaissance. These books are often characterized as the 'bestseller' of the Middle Ages. As a genre, they certainly enjoyed enormous, even unprecedented popularity, becoming the prayer book of the laity, monarchs and merchants, lords and ladies, alike. Its popularity, however, was restricted to certain parts of Europe: primarily France, England and the Netherlands. Elsewhere in Europe, for example, in German-speaking lands, Central Europe and even Italy and Spain, where other types of prayer books retained their dominance, it remained relatively rare.

The core of the Book of Hours is the Office of the Virgin Mary, with its set of prayers to be recited at home eight different times, or hours, of the day, just as monks chanted the office during the eight monastic hours.

Every Book of Hours is unique. Its content - textual and pictorial - can vary enormously from volume to volume. Nevertheless, there are certain sections that are standard and are found in most Books of Hours, and the subjects of the miniatures that usually illustrate them are likewise standard.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
Book of Hours
c. 1460
Manuscript (Ms. Ludwig IX.8)
J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

800*1185
True Color
217 Kb



Book of Hours of Isabella of Castile
1460s
Manuscript, 205 x 138 mm
Real Biblioteca, Madrid

717*1100
True Color
238 Kb



Book of Hours of Isabella of Castile
1460s
Manuscript, 205 x 138 mm
Real Biblioteca, Madrid

694*1100
True Color
229 Kb



The Black Hours
c. 1475
Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm (each)
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York

878*550
True Color
99 Kb



The Black Hours
c. 1475
Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York

397*550
True Color
55 Kb



The Black Hours
c. 1475
Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm (folio size)
The Morgan Library and Museum, New York

303*500
True Color
35 Kb



The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian
c. 1480
Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm (each)
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

922*450
True Color
60 Kb



The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian
c. 1480
Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm (each)
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

710*500
True Color
82 Kb



The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian
c. 1480
Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

349*500
True Color
36 Kb



The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian
c. 1480
Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm
Staatliche Museen, Berlin

358*500
True Color
39 Kb



Hastings Hours
c. 1480
Manuscript (Additional Ms. 54782)
British Library, London

1327*900
True Color
221 Kb



Hastings Hours
c. 1480
Manuscript (Additional Ms. 54782)
British Library, London

800*1103
True Color
167 Kb



Book of Hours
1470-1500
Manuscript (Ms. 118. I. 43)
Benedictine Library, Pannonhalma

961*608
True Color
169 Kb



Book of Hours (La Flora)
1483-98
Manuscript (I. B. 51)
Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Naples

800*1032
True Color
147 Kb



Book of Hours (La Flora)
1483-98
Manuscript (I. B. 51)
Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Naples

900*1264
True Color
219 Kb



Book of Hours
1490s
Manuscript
Cathedral Library, Esztergom

508*500
True Color
77 Kb



Book of Hours
1490s
Manuscript
Cathedral Library, Esztergom

500*500
True Color
83 Kb



Book of Hours
c. 1465
Manuscript
Private collection

900*1211
True Color
183 Kb




Summary of illuminated manuscripts (miniatures)
Late Antique and Pre-Romanesque periods
351-400 | 401-450 | 451-500 | 501-550 | 551-600 | 601-650 | 651-700
701-750 | 751-800 | 801-850 | 851-900 | 901-950 | 951-1000
Romanesque period
1001-1050 | 1051-1100 | 1101-1150
Early and High Gothic periods
1151-1200 | 1201-1250 | 1251-1300
Late Gothic and Renaissance periods
1301-1350 | 1351-1400 | 1401-1450 | 1451-1500 | 1501-1550
Book covers
Illuminations by known masters
List of illuminators