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	Info
	Book of Hours c. 1460 Manuscript (Ms. Ludwig IX.8) J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles
	Book of Hours of Isabella of Castile 1460s Manuscript, 205 x 138 mm Real Biblioteca, Madrid
	Book of Hours of Isabella of Castile 1460s Manuscript, 205 x 138 mm Real Biblioteca, Madrid
	The Black Hours c. 1475 Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm (each) The Morgan Library and Museum, New York
	The Black Hours c. 1475 Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm The Morgan Library and Museum, New York
	The Black Hours c. 1475 Manuscript (M. 493), 170 x 120 mm (folio size) The Morgan Library and Museum, New York
	The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian c. 1480 Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm (each) Staatliche Museen, Berlin
	The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian c. 1480 Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm (each) Staatliche Museen, Berlin
	The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian c. 1480 Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm Staatliche Museen, Berlin
	The Hours of Mary of Burgundy and Emperor Maximilian c. 1480 Manuscript (Hs. 78 B 12), 105 x 73 mm Staatliche Museen, Berlin
	Hastings Hours c. 1480 Manuscript (Additional Ms. 54782) British Library, London
	Hastings Hours c. 1480 Manuscript (Additional Ms. 54782) British Library, London
	Book of Hours 1470-1500 Manuscript (Ms. 118. I. 43) Benedictine Library, Pannonhalma
	Book of Hours (La Flora) 1483-98 Manuscript (I. B. 51) Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Naples
	Book of Hours (La Flora) 1483-98 Manuscript (I. B. 51) Biblioteca Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele III, Naples
	Book of Hours 1490s Manuscript Cathedral Library, Esztergom
	Book of Hours 1490s Manuscript Cathedral Library, Esztergom
	Book of Hours c. 1465 Manuscript Private collection