Hours of the Virgin

Texts and Images

A frontispiece showing the Annunciation with the patrons introduces the Hours of the Virgin.

The text of Matins, the first of the 8 Hours recited daily at the canonical times for prayer, opens with a large historiated initial D of the Virgin and Child with a full border. The patrons are depicted in the border alongside birds, animals and heraldic shields. Remaining text divisions are marked by ornamental initials.