Book of Hours
Medium
Tempera, ink and gold on parchment; leather binding
Dimensions
8 1/8 x 4 3/4 x 1in. (20.6 x 12.1 x 2.5cm) Other (77 folios): 8 1/16 × 4 13/16 in. (20.4 × 12.2 cm)
Classification
Manuscripts and Illuminations
Culture
French
Department
Medieval Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Joseph W. Drexel, 1889
Accession Number
89.27.4
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Book of Hours*, created by the skilled French illuminators Gilles and Germain Hardouyn between 1518 and 1521, exemplifies the golden age of manuscript illumination during the late Gothic and early Renaissance periods. Books of Hours were personal devotional books popular among Europe's nobility and devout laity, containing prayers, psalms, calendars, and the Hours of the Virgin—structured for daily recitation at the eight canonical hours. Crafted in Angers, this compact volume (measuring about 8 x 4 3/4 inches) was designed for portability, allowing owners to carry their faith intimately. The Hardouyn brothers employed masterful techniques: vibrant tempera paints, precise ink line work, and lavish gold leaf on fine parchment, bound in leather for protection. These 77 folios showcase intricate miniatures, borders, and historiated initials that blend French Gothic detail with emerging Renaissance naturalism, highlighting the era's artistic fusion. Such illuminations not only beautified sacred texts but also served as status symbols, reflecting patrons' piety and wealth. A gift to the Metropolitan Museum of Art from Joseph W. Drexel in 1889, this manuscript offers a window into 16th-century French spirituality and craftsmanship, reminding us how art intertwined with daily devotion in medieval life.
About the Artist
Gilles Hardouyn|Germain Hardouyn (French|French) · | – |
French|French