Exhibition – Books of hours a history in objects

The Very Rich Hours of the Duke of Berry and the Hours of Étienne Chevalier are among the Château de Chantilly’s most prized possessions.

To place these works in their broader context, in parallel with the landmark exhibition devoted to the Very Rich Hours, the Reading Room will present a collection of over fifty Books of Hours, in manuscript and print form, surveying the history of these previously neglected but now widely celebrated objects.

Seven centuries of exceptional artistry

Among the many outstanding works in the Reading Room’s extensive collection on display will be the earliest known psalter-hours with a calendar (Manuscript 7, circa 1190), remarkable examples of French, Italian and Flemish manuscript Books of Hours, including the Hours of Jean III de Gros (1434 ? -1484), secretary to Charles the Bold and treasurer of the Order of the Golden Fleece, with grisaille and gold illuminations by Simon Marmion (1425-1489), one of the rare painters and illuminators whose reputation was made during his lifetime, and in a completely different style, Manuscript 117, commissioned by the renowned bookseller Curmer from painter Ary Scheffer (1794-1858) for chromolithographic reproduction.

A wider readership

Before the 16th century, the Book of Hours was a source of private spiritual guidance. Borrowed from the clergy, it made prayer easier and more pleasant and, although initially limited to royalty and the nobility, it was increasingly adopted by other social classes. Given as a wedding gift, it could be used to teach children to read or to record household accounts and family events. Originally produced as manuscripts and then in print, they were the first ‘bestsellers’ in book history.

Competition and decline

A symbol of traditional worship, Books of Hours were not immune to the spiritual, artistic and technological revolutions of their time. As they were adapted to the market, the books became more standardised, especially after the Counter-Reformation, and gradually lost their appeal. This led publishers to produce more poetic versions and to experiment with new formats, as demonstrated by The French Hours, the Sicilian Vespers and the Matins of Saint Bartholomew (1690).

19^th-century revival

The 19th century saw a revival of interest in Books of Hours. As reminders of a romanticised past, artists and publishers looked to them for inspiration, while book collectors treated them as curiosities or prized finds. Taking a scholarly and historical approach to these works, the Duke of Aumale provided new insights, making him a pioneering figure in the field.