Book of Hours

Accession number: 
MS M.253
Title: 
Book of Hours
Created: 
Paris, France, ca. 1480.
Binding: 
Formerly in red silk; now in purple velvet with gilt clasps in dark blue morocco case lettered: Queen Margaret's Prayer Book.
Credit: 
Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) before 1913.
Description: 
249 leaves (1 column, 15 lines), bound : vellum, ill. ; 130 x 100 mm
Provenance: 
Probably executed for Jean III Bethune (ca. 1450-1511) (of the Bethune family whose combined arms are found on fol. 242r and 249v; Théophile Belin (catalogue, 1906, no. 23); purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Pearson before 1913; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943).
Notes: 

Ms. book of hours for the use of Paris (Hours of the Virgin); written and illuminated in France, perhaps in Paris, ca. 1480.
Decoration: 2 full-page miniatures on fol. 242r and 249v; the combined arms of multiple associated families; 44 half-page miniatures with arms of different families at bas-de-page; 8 small miniatures; 24 calendar illustrations.

Variant Title: 

Title on case: Queen Margaret's prayer book

Script: 
bastarda
Language: 
Latin and Middle French
Classification: