The reading/singing monk and the jousting knights are of particularly fine quality. The knights, bearing coats of arms, affirm a lay origin for the manuscript, and are an early example of arms borne in such a way. This book of hours follows a design which was first formulated for the book of hours in Oxford circa1240. The manuscript is a key document for further study of the relationships between English and French books of hours.
Provenance
France (17th century): New York prior to 1990; Sotheby's 1990; Sam Fogg Rare Books.