The Hours of Mary of Burgundy

Flanders, circa 1475
Gothic script

Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna (Austria)
Codex Vindobonensis 1857

Date of Publication of the (reduced) Facsimile: 1995
Publishers: Harvey Miller, London (Great Britain) and Akademische Druck- u. Verlagsanstalt, Graz (Austria)
Series: Manuscripts in Miniature and Glanzlichter der Buchkunst

Intended for the private devotion of laypeople, the Book of Hours allowed them to follow, in abbreviated form, the daily routine of prayers and psalmody which was characteristic of the monastic life. Most of these books also contain a Calendar designating the important feast days, selections from the Gospels, prayers to the saints, and the Office of the Dead.

While the Books of Hours were intended for private use, they became showpieces among the very wealthy. In such cases they were often very large and elaborate. The famous manuscript (which was owned by one of the wealthiest women in Europe) of which this is a reduced-size facsimile measures 225 x 163 mm, with 190 folios. It is therefore about the size of a modern hardcover book, and its decoration is exceptionally rich.

fols. 14v-15r (120K)

fols. 23v-24r (152K)

fols. 56v-57r (160K)

fols. 128v-129r (144K)

fols. 146v-147r (160K)

fols. 1*v-2*r (112K)

Holkham Picture Book

Book of Hours