Book of Hours

Master of the Harvard Hannibal

about 1420–1430

Tempera, gold paint, gold leaf, and silver paint, Tempera, Gold paint, Silver paint

J. Paul Getty Museum

A religious scene depicts Christ seated on a throne, surrounded by angels, with figures rising from the ground below. The artwork features ornate borders with floral and foliate motifs. This fifteenth-century manuscript is known as a book of hours, which typically the devotions, prayers, and assorted services used by Christians daily in medieval Europe. The owner of a book of hours could also play a role in which texts were to be included, as often the patron would ask for specific prayers or even the incorporation of a portrait. Often, these personalized additions centered around the Virgin Mary, to ensure that the Virgin would be a witness to the owner's life and help in his/her accession to Heaven upon death. This manuscript was illuminated by the Master of the Harvard Hannibal (active 1415 – 1430), with inspira