Miniature Book of Hours Illuminated Manuscript Leaf Collection.

$5,000.00

Item Number: 110201

Rare collection of six illuminated leaves from three late 15th century Books of Hours. Six vellum leaves decorated with illuminated initials and borders. Each leaf is framed allowing visibility of both sides of each page. In near fine condition. An exceptional collection.

A collection of prayers to be recited at canonical hours, the book of hours became popular in the Middle Ages, with illumination and decoration restricted to decorated capital letters at the start of prayers and psalms in most examples. Books created for wealthier patrons, however, were often decorated with lavish full-page miniature scenes depicting the eight Hours of the Virgin and the Labours of the Months and signs of the zodiac. The earliest example of full-page calendar miniatures in a book of hours were found in the Très Riches Heures of the Duke de Berry, the most famous and possibly the best surviving example of French Gothic manuscript illumination. The Dresden Prayerbook (actually a Book of Hours, now destroyed) had such a series, and its illuminator was especially favored for his calendar scenes, often contributing them to manuscripts painted by other artists.