Sandra Hindman Bücher

The book explores the evolution of Christian thought from the twelfth to the sixteenth centuries, focusing on the struggle to interpret and live by the Gospels. It highlights the theme of reform, emphasizing the necessity of change for a more authentic Christian life. Through approximately thirty-five manuscripts, it showcases the texts that inspired various reform movements and disseminated their ideas, providing insight into the historical context and the transformative nature of faith during this period.

Featuring twelve Books of Hours from the 13th to the 16th century, this collection showcases the evolution of medieval illuminated manuscripts across France, Italy, and the Netherlands. Notable artists such as Pietro da Pavia and Willem Vrelant contributed to these unique works, each reflecting the personal lives and spiritual concerns of their owners. While some manuscripts are richly illustrated, others are more modest, providing a diverse glimpse into the artistic and cultural context of their time.

Although the earliest records of written French date from the 9th century, it was not until the 13th century, when there was an explosion of texts in the 'mother tongue', that French became widespread as a written language. And only in 1539, by King Francis I, was French deemed the official language of the kingdom.

For over three hunderd years, more Books of Hours were made than any other type of book, even the Bible. From c. 1225, when the first Books of Hours began to appear, to 1571, when during the Counter-Reformation Pope Pius V prohibited the use of all existing Books of Hours, nearly every European family of a certain means owned a Book of Hours. Books of Hours Reconsidered presents recent research on this medieval bestseller in twenty-one essays written by international scholars. The scholarship in this volume helps instill Books of Hours with new life and give them new meaning at a moment when interest in Books of Hours is on the rise.

Catalogue of a sales exhibition held at Les Enluminures, Paris, Feb. 3-Apr. 15, 2009, and at C.G. Boener, New York, Apr. 28-May 9, 2009.