Exhibition – Books of hours a history in objects

As an extension of the major exhibition devoted to The Très Riches Heures of the Duke of Berry, the Reading Room presents a remarkable collection of over fifty Books of Hours, both manuscripts and printed editions, dating from the late 12th to the 19th century. These once-overlooked works now reveal the rich and fascinating history of a treasured book form that was both dreamt of and venerated.

A unique journey through seven centuries of illuminated devotion

Exceptional pieces across the centuries

The Cabinet des Livres boasts exceptional pieces, including the first known psalter-hours with a calendar (manuscript 7, c. 1190). Among the most stunning French, Italian, and Flemish manuscripts are the Hours of Jean III de Gros (1434?–1484), Secretary to Charles the Bold and Treasurer of the Order of the Golden Fleece, painted in grisaille and gold by Simon Marmion (1425–1489), one of the few illuminators praised by his contemporaries. In a completely different style, manuscript 117 was commissioned by the famed bookseller Curmer and painted by Ary Scheffer (1794–1858) to be reproduced in chromolithography.

The Book of Hours for everyone

Until the 16th century, the Book of Hours was the main spiritual tool in private devotion. Adapted from clergy use, it first spread through aristocratic and princely circles, before reaching broader social groups. Given as wedding gifts, used to teach children to read, or to record family events, they were highly personal. First handwritten, then printed, they became the first true “bestseller” in book history.

A tradition challenged

Symbols of tradition and witnesses to spiritual, artistic, and technological revolutions, Books of Hours gradually adapted to the market but became more standardized after the Counter-Reformation. To innovate, some publishers created poetic versions in verse, while others went as far as subverting the genre. Titles like French Hours, Vespers of Sicily, or Matins of Saint Bartholomew’s Day (1690) introduced entirely new directions.

Rediscovered in the 19th century

Echoes of an idealized past, Books of Hours became fashionable again in the 19th century. They inspired artists, publishers, and collectors alike. The Duke of Aumale adopted a scholarly approach to offer a fresh, historical perspective on the evolution of the Book of Hours, making him a true pioneer in the field.