Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis Ross. 198

Officium Beatae Mariae Virginis Ross. 198

One of the most common cycles of Psalms, hymns, prayers, and picture readings found in books of hours is the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Hours of the Virgin. It originated as a monastic devotion during the mid-8th century and came into general use among the laity during the 10th century. Marian veneration grew tremendously during the 12th and 13th centuries before reaching the height of its popularity during the 14th and 15th centuries, after which time the Reformation signaled a decline as many Protestants objected to her deification. Aside from the great popularity of the Virgin Mary as a compassionate intercessor and protector of humanity, books of hours specifically dedicated to her were a typically owned by aristocratic women, who often received them as wedding presents and a source of comfort while facing the trials and mortal danger of pregnancy and childbirth.

A Mysterious Masterpiece

One of the finest specimens of this sub-genre of medieval manuscripts was created ca. 1480 and furnished with 28 magnificent full-page miniatures by the French illuminator Jean Colombe (ca. 1430 – ca. 1493). Colombe is best known for illuminating a true masterpiece of the Passages d'outremer for Louis de Laval (1411–89) and finishing the famous Très Riches Heures for Jean de Berry (1340–1416) after it was left unfinished by the Limbourg Brothers, who are believed to have all died of plague. This Gothic treasure already exhibit features of the French Renaissance and are presented in splendid decorative frames with flowering tendrils and fruits. However, it is not known who commissioned the manuscript and the first few centuries of its ownership history are similarly mysterious. What is known is that this small masterpiece was in the possession of the Italian diplomat and bibliophile Count Giovan Francesco de Rossi (1796–1854) before finally making its way to its permanent repository in the famous Bibliotheca Apostolica Vaticana.