The Book of Hours is a literary work of Christian devotion, which gained popularity during the Middle Ages. Indeed, from the 14th to 16th century, Book of Hours’ were the most commonly manufactured medieval literature. In addition to their stimulating content, comprising psalms, prayers, and devotional texts, these books are among the most interesting examples of medieval calligraphy and decorative practice. Such manuscripts were made and decorated by hand, and provide an in-depth look at life in medieval Europe. They comprise eight sections of devotional texts (Office of Readings), which were intended to be said at certain points of the day, known as the Hours of the Virgin. This particular leaf includes part of Psalm 108 (A Song of David), as well as the hymn for the third hour, known as “Terce”, which was said at around 9 o’ clock in the morning.
To discover more about Medieval manuscripts please visit our relevant blog post: Illuminated Manuscripts & Vellum Pages.
