The Most Beautiful Books of Hours and Prayer Books

Our picture of the Middle Ages, created by the Limbourg brothers for the Duke of Berry: one of the most beautiful, valuable, and famous manuscripts in the world

Paris and/or Bourges (France) — 1410–1416 and 1485–1489

The Bedford Master's magnum opus: one of the most spectacularly illuminated manuscripts of all time

Paris (France) — 1410–1430

The "greatest" highlight of Flemish book painting: 1,600 fabulous pages magnificently decorated by Gerard David, Simon Bening, Gerard Horenbout, and other masters

Ghent and Bruges (Belgium) — 1510–1520

One of the most beautiful books of hours in the history of illumination and at the same time a herbolarium: miniatures and paintings created by the great Jean Bourdichon for the French Queen

Tours (France) — 1503–1508

Magical miniatures in the grisaille technique by Jean Pucelle: a great masterpiece in small format for the Queen of France

Paris (France) — 1325–1328

Black parchment and bright colors commissioned by Charles the Bold: one of only a handful of black manuscripts preserved

Bruges (Belgium) — 1466–1476

The beginning of a new era in illumination: masterful, full-page miniatures in an abundantly illuminated book of hours

Paris or Angers (France) — 1430–1435

Created by Giovannino de' Grassi and Belbello da Pavia: an expressive illuminated prayer book in two volumes for the Duke of Milan

Probably Milan (Italy) — Around 1390, completed after 1428

700 incredible pages with over 1,200 miniatures: an opulent and masterfully decorated work by Jean Colombe for the French governor and lord protector

France — 1470–1475 and 1485–1489

Gold and purple for the king: the only preserved royal Ottonian prayer book

Germany — 983–991

Italian Renaissance art in filigree perfection: the wedding gift of Lorenzo the Magnificent to his eldest daughter Lucrezia

Florence (Italy) — 1485

Radiant miniatures, glowing borders and gold initials on black colored parchment: one of only seven black manuscripts that have survived to this day

Bruges (Belgium) — ca. 1475

Equipped with 121 wonderful miniatures and one of the most beautiful calendars from his hand: Simon Bening's early and brilliantly illuminated masterpiece

Ghent or Bruges (Belgium) — ca. 1515

An extraordinary and magnificent book treasure, even after its division into three works: Jan van Eyck's magnificent masterpiece for Jean Duc de Berry

Paris, Bourges (France); The Hague (Netherlands); Bruges (Belgium) — Between 1380/90 and 1420

A masterpiece entirely in gold and purple: one of the last and one of the most beautiful purple manuscripts of the late Middle Ages

Parma (Italy) — Beginning of the 16th century