Book of Hours fragments, probably France and Flanders, c. 1450-1525

Image of Book of Hours fragment

Books of Hours are among the most common surviving illuminated medieval manuscripts: they are devotional books whose decoration can vary from vivid but simple initials to large and elaborate illustrations. These three fragments belong on the lower end of the spectrum—notice the abstract plant and water motif on the largest, however—but their use of colour is still striking even after five hundred years. These particular fragments were produced in France (the two smaller pieces) and Flanders (the largest) between 1450 and 1525.

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