Book of Hours

Horæ Beatæ Mariæ Virginis

Vellum leaf from an illuminated Medieval Manuscript
France; Early 16th Century
Latin Text; Cursive Gothic Script
16 by 11.5 cm

This beautiful manuscript leaf was written and illuminated about the year 1535 A.D. At this late date Books of Hours were also being printed in great numbers by such famous French printers as Vostre, de Colines, and Tory. These were elaborately illustrated and frequenly hand-colored.

The cursive gothic script used in this leaf, with its boldly accented letters and flourished initials, borrowed heavily from the decorative chancery or legal hands of the 13th and 14th centuries. It influenced the type face known as civilité, designed by Granjon, and first used in 1559 A.D.

Keywords: 1500s, Book of Hours, cursive gothic script, decoration, England, France, initials

Manuscripts | Cary Collection