Getty Museum

Book of Hours

Date

about 1440–1450

Medium

Tempera colors, gold leaf, gold paint, and ink

Culture

French

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

Object ID

9b20561c-54f7-4b63-bee3-8abf9865f7e4

Illuminated in Paris in the middle of the fifteenth century, this French book of hours is attributed to the renowned Bedford Master, whose workshop produced some of the most exquisitely illuminated manuscripts of the time. The Bedford Master’s distinctive style—marked by elegant figures, expressive faces, and delicate details—imbues each page with both spiritual and artistic significance. The manuscript opens with calendar pages, which feature the signs of the zodiac in roundels alongside labors or activities associated with each of month. The Bedford Master’s penchant for details in these small scenes allows modern viewers a glimpse into everyday life. In the scene for January, for example, a nobleman drinks from a shallow bowl while he is attended to by two servants, one of whom places his hand on a golden ship-like object—probably a spice cellar (known as a nef). Such objects showcased the wealth and status of individuals, not only because of their material splendor, but because of the precious, and likely imported, spices they contained. Beyond the calendar pages, this book of hours contains over sixty images of saints and episodes from the life and death of Christ, each set within elaborate borders featuring brightly colored acanthus leaves, blue and red flowers, and golden vines and leaves. A book of hours served as a personal devotional companion, containing a selection of essential texts, including the Hours of the Virgin, Hours of the Holy Cross, and the Office of the Dead, which were largely memorized and could be recited throughout the day in emulation of prayers recited by monks and nuns.

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