Book of Hours

Description The last page of this Book of Hours holds a rebus, a riddle created from images. In this case, it was meant to help one memorize a prayer to the Virgin Mary. The reader pieced together the intended text from the sound of the words represented by the image, although here the text is given as well. Word and image play together, for instance when the French word "de" (of) is intended, a picture of dice, "dé," is shown.

Exhibitions

• Prayers in Code: Books of Hours from Renaissance France. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2009.
• Checkmate! Medieval People at Play. The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore. 2010.

Provenance Henry Walters, Baltimore, after 1894 [mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.

Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, after 1894