Bedford Book of Hours: A Unique Medieval Manuscript

Colorful illuminated manuscripts were common in the Middle Ages. One of these books was Bedford Book of Hours, a collection of liturgical texts compiled in the 15th century in Paris. There is no biographical information about the illustrator of the Book of Hours, so the work is named after John of Lancaster, Duke of Bedford, who commissioned the manuscript. The image of the duke and his wife can be seen among the bright drawings: probably, the order of the book of hours was made on the occasion of their marriage. However, some historians do not agree with this version, they believe that the portraits and coats of arms of the Lancasters were completed in an already completed manuscript. Today, this unique rarity is kept in the British Library, one of the largest national libraries in the world.

The book includes 289 sheets, dozens of large miniatures and more than a thousand marginal illustrations. It includes fragments from the Gospels, prayer addresses to the Virgin Mary, lists of saints, funeral and other masses, as well as a number of other religious texts. The creation of the Book of Hours took place in several stages: when the book passed to new owners after John of Lancaster, new illustrations were added to it. The Bedford Book of Hours could have belonged to the French king Henry II, who lived a hundred years after the work on the manuscript began. Images of his coat of arms can also be seen on the pages of the work. In the 18th century, the Book of Hours fell into the hands of Sir Robert Worsley, who sold the book to the collector and bibliophile Edward Harley. The Harley Library contains over 7,000 manuscripts, including over 2,000 illuminated works. In 1753, the British government bought the collection from Harley for £10,000, but the Bedford Book of Hours was not included. The manuscript still belonged to the Harley family for some time, was kept by the daughter of Lord Edward, the Duchess of Portland. Only after her death in 1786 was the Book of Hours transferred to the British Library.

At the end of 1794, a monograph was published on the Bedford Book of Hours. The antiquarian Richard Gough has prepared a study entitled "An Account of a Rich Illuminated Missal Performed for John, Duke of Bedford". The monograph analyzes the features of full-page drawings and provides information about the previous owners. On Violiti you can buy ancient books of hours and other manuscripts and rare editions, which will be an excellent addition to the library.