Hastings Hours

by Janet Backhouse

This illuminated book of hours is one of the outstanding achievements of Renaissance Flemish illumination, admired and treasured for the quality of its miniatures and ornate floral border decorations. Named after its patron, William Lord Hastings, the book is considered one of the finest devotional works of the period to have survived, with crisply drawn miniatures and border motifs, and a remarkable harmony of colour throughout. This edition of the book reproduces all the major miniatures and many decorative borders near to actual size.

Genres: Art

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Janet Backhouse, a respected authority in her field, was a former curator of illuminated manuscripts for The British Library.

Reviews

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

William Hastings was a loyal Yorkist who served King Edward IV during the Wars of the Roses. When the King died, Hastings got caught between the machinations of the widowed Queen and the incoming Protector, the future Richard III. Hastings ended up losing his head.

However, he will be forever mentioned because he was the first patron of one of the most beautifully illuminated Book of Hours, now known as the Hastings Hours. This was one of the last of the great Flemish hand renderings, before the printing press signaled the eventual end of these artistic masterpieces.

This book is a small (can be held in one's palm) but highly effective overview of the Hours. It has artwork on every other page, with the lives of the saints in full view (St. Erasmus always makes me a bit queasy). The commentary by Janet Backhouse is a perfect accompaniment and is another example of the type of classy publications by the Pomegranate Books publishing group.

Book Season = Year Round (British Library)