Book of Hours were prayer books designed for the laity, but modeled on the Divine Office, a cycle of daily devotions, prayers and readings, performed by members of religious orders and the clergy. Its central text is the Hours of the Virgin. There are eight hours (times for prayer ): Matins, Lauds. Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers and Compline. During the Middle Ages, the leaves making up a Book of Hours were written by hand on expensive parchment and beautifully illuminated with jewel-like pigments and gold leaf. These illuminated manuscripts combined the collaborative efforts of an array of highly skilled craftspeople; requiring the joint labors of the parchmenter, professional scribes to write the text in Gothic script, artists to illuminate the pages with decorations, and masterful binders to complete the process.

Superb vellum leaf from a French Book of Hours. The text is in a bold gothic book hand with eleven illuminated initials and two line fillers in red, blue and burnished gold leaf. Both sides feature splendid floral and vine panels painted in a multitude of colors and gold leaf. The text includes parts of Psalms 116 and 117 and translates as:

All nations, praise the Lord. All peoples, praise him.
For his mercy has been confirmed over us. And the truth of the Lord remains for all eternity.
Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever.
Let Israel now say: For he is good, for his mercy is forever.
Let the house of Aaron now say: For his mercy is forever.
Let those who fear the Lord now say: For his mercy is forever.
In my tribulation, I called upon the Lord. And the Lord heeded me with generosity.
The Lord is my helper. I will not fear what man can do to me.
The Lord is my helper. And I will look down upon my enemies.

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Condition: A

Minor toning and soiling.