THE BOOK OF HOURS IN THE MIDDLE AGES

Abstract

Books of hours represent one of the most fascinating textuals and visual genres of the entire Middle Ages. The article offers a survey of the historical development of the books of hours, details the structural patterns, and the religious elements constituting this genre. The focus, however, rests on the correlation between text and image, on the artistic mastery of those who created the powerful illustrations, and also on the relevance of books of hours for the history of women as readers, patrons, art lovers, and religious persons.