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Book of Hours

Circle of Willem Vrelant (Netherlandish and Flemish, active 1449-1481) (Artist)

Flemish (Artist)

ca. 1460-1470

ink and pigments on parchment bound between boards covered with leather
(Manuscripts and Rare Books, Medieval Europe )

This pocket-sized Book of Hours, ca. 1460-70, was completed in the circle of Willem Vrelant for the use of Sarum. Featuring twenty-seven extant miniatures and twenty-two historiated initials, it is an important example of the prayer books made in the third quarter of the thirteenth century in Bruges for English owners. While this manuscript is not especially unique amongst its peers, it is exemplary because of its impressive pictorial program, including the aforementioned miniatures and historiated initials. The miniatures include decorative details distinctive of the tradition of the Masters of the Gold Scrolls, which was influential in this period. Also notable is the sensitivity to atmospheric landscape effects imbued with spatial and coloristic qualities reminiscent of manuscripts in the Eyckian tradition. Full-page Passion scenes paired with smaller Infancy episodes in the Hours of the Virgin are juxtaposed, resulting in a rare dualism that speaks to the ambitious artistic program exhibited in this manuscript.

Provenance

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

Léon Gruel, Paris, late 19th-early 20th century [1] [2]; purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, early 20th century; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.

[1] Unknown modern ownership notation on front pastedown: no. "4" in blue crayon followed by "I.III.16" written in pencil
[2] Gruel and Engelmann bookplate on front pastedown inscribed "N. 935"

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Geographies

Belgium, Bruges (Place of Origin)

Measurements

Folio H: 3 7/8 × W: 2 7/8 in. (9.8 × 7.3 cm)

Credit Line

Acquired by Henry Walters

Location in Museum

Not on view

Accession Number

In libraries, galleries, museums, and archives, an accession number is a unique identifier assigned to each object in the collection.

W.202

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