Facsimiles of Medieval Manuscripts and Incunabula

London, British Library, MS Add. 18850

The Bedford Book of Hours was made in early 15th-century Paris and contains a calendar, Genesis miniatures, Gospel excerpts, prayers to the Virgin, Hours of the Virgin, Penitential Psalms, Office of the Dead, Hours of the Passion, and saints prayers. The original patron is still debated, but the manuscript contains portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Bedford.

Additional resource: The Bedford Hours : The Making of a Medieval Masterpiece

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary and English Addendum

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Codex Vindobonensis 1856

The Black Hours of Galeazzo Maria Sforza are known because of the unusual choice to dye the border page black. The manuscript was produced in Bruges between 1466 and 1476 by the Master of Anthony of Burgundy.

High Quality Color Unbound Plates with German Commentary

Pannonhalma, Abbey of Pannonhalma, MS 118.I.43

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary

The Book of Hours of Emperor Maximilian the First includes engravings by several artists including Albrecht Dürer. It was printed by Johannes Schoensberger at Augsberg in 1513.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Marginal Commentary

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary

Vienna, Österreichischen Nationalbibliothek, Codex Vindobonensis 1857

This book of hours was made for Mary, Duchess of Burgundy, the daughter of Charles the Bold. An ornately decorated royal manuscript, it was made in the southern Netherlands around the year 1477.

High Quality Color Facsimile with French Commentary

Private Collection

Thought to be the earliest Book of Hours produced in Italy. The Officiolum di Francesco da Barberino is a canonical prayer book featuring 70 illuminated folios.

Italian Commentary

Vienna, Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Codex Vindobonensis 1859

The Older Prayerbook for Emperor Charles V was produced in early 16th century Belgium for the Spanish King and Emperor Charles V. It is written in both Latin and French features elongated pages.

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Douce 219-220

The Hours of Engelbert of Nassau is a Flemish illuminated manuscript in the Dominican Rite, produced in Ghent. It was illuminated by the same artist who produced the Hours of Mary of Burgundy, eponymously known as the master of Mary of Burgundy.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Introduction

New York City, Morgan Library and Museum, MS 917 and MS 945

The Hours of Catherine of Cleves is one of the most famous Dutch illuminated manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Northern Renaissance. It’s decoration is extremely ornate and individualized. The artist’s interest in everyday objects seems to precurse Dutch still-life painting of the 17th-century.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Interspersed Transcription

New York City, The Morgan Library and Museum, MS M.69, fols. 38v-39

The Farnese Hours is a Renaissance book of hours painted by Giulio Clovio for cardinal Alessandro Farnese in 1546.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Interspersed Transcription

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms lat. 9474

The Grandes Heures de la Reine Anne de Bretagne was made by Jean Bourdichon in the beginning of the 16th century. The manuscript has 49 full-page miniatures and numerous marginal illuminations, which depict realistic foliage, insects, and animals.

Black and White Unbound Plates with French Introduction

Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale de France, ms. Lat. 919

The Grandes Heures is an illuminated book of hours commissioned by Jean, Duke of Berry in the year 1407. Identifiable artists include Jacquemart de Hesdin and an illuminator known as Pseudo-Jaquemart.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Interspersed Transcription

The Hastings Hours is an illuminated manuscript produced in Ghent or Bruges between 1475 and 1483. The book apparently belonged to the English lord William, Lord Hastings, but patronage is debated because the coat of arms might have been a later addition.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Commentary

New York City, The Cloisters Collection, MS 54. 1.2

This tiny book of hours was made in Paris around the year 1325 as a gift from the French King Charles IV, to his new bride, Jeanne d’Evreux. It is believed to have been illuminated by Jean Pucelle and is known for its intricate and grisaille figures and themes of charitable kingship.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Introduction

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, Ms. lat. 18014

The Petites Heures is the first of six books of hours commissioned by Jean de Berry between 1375 and 1416. It was completed in two parts and reflects the two distinct styles of late 14th-century manuscript illumination: international Gothic and the followers of Jean Pucelle.

High Quality Color Facsimile with German Commentary

Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale, MS. Latin 9471

This manuscript was painted by the anonymous artist known as the Rohan Master between 1430 and 1435. It is renown for its dramatic and emotional expressionism in the figures of Christ and the Virgin.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Interspersed Transcription

New York City, The Cloisters Collection, MS 54.1.1

The Belles Heures was created for Jean de Berry by the Limbourg brothers, probably in Paris. It includes customized cycles devoted to figures and events which were particularly significant for the duke.

Black and White and Color Unbound Plates with French Commentary

Chantilly, Musée Condé, MS.65

Out of the fifteen books of hours owned by Jean, Duc de Berry (1340-1416), the Tres Riches Heures are the most famous because of the extravagant size and miniature paintings, many of which depict his wealth and property. Unfortunately the manuscript was unfinished when the duke died and has remained incomplete.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Introduction and Interspersed Transcription

Florence, Biblioteca Nazionale, Mss. BR 397 e LF 22

The production of books of hours in Italy began much later than other places. Among the most famous is the Visconti Hours, which was made for Giangaleazzo Visconti, the Duke of Milan, roughly between the years of 1390 and 1428.

High Quality Color Facsimile with English Interspersed Transcription