Leaf from the Book of Hours, No. 31

Place of OriginFrance

Datemid 15th century

DimensionsOverall: 5 1/8 x 7 3/8 in. (13 x 18.7 cm)

MediumVellum

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1953.129EE

Not on View

DescriptionLatin text; Angular Gothic script

Label TextIn the late fifteenth century, devout and wealthy laymen had a wide selection of Books of Hours from which to choose, both manuscript volumes and printed texts. These were often sold, in large cities, in book stalls set up near the main entrance to the cathedral. The first printed Book of Hours appeared in 1486. The decorations in these printed books were frequently colored and embellished by hand and thus created strong competition for the more costly manuscript copies. Customers who preferred the manuscript format had a choice of the types of decoration and could stipulate the quantity of miniatures desired. As this leaf shows, the ivy spray, springing from the initial letter, was elaborated to incorporate flowers and a variety of other types of foliage.