Book of Hours

This Book of Hours was created ca. 1440 in Hainaut for a female patron with Cistercian connections, which is suggested by long devotional sequences focused on the Passion of Christ and the Virgin, including indulgences, a litany with Cistercian affiliation, and various references to a female suppliant. Two devotional texts written by various scribes in Latin and French were added to the front and back of the book ca. 1450-1600. At the end of the front devotional text, on fol. 6v, there are sewing holes and strong impressions of a variety of pilgrim badges. The manuscript contains eight full-page miniatures.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object.

Created for unknown Cistercian female patron, Hainaut, ca. 1440. Owned by Gehoort Suster (?) de Grheuppize (?), 1583 [1]. Possibly owned by Leo S. Olschki, Florence [2]. Purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, early 20th century; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] Ownership entry on back pastedown: "Gehoort Suster (?) de Grheuppize (?)/ Christiaens Zone 1583"
[2] Ticket with "815" in blue crayon on front pastedown