Case 12
- St. Anne & The Fitzherberts
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5
This historiated initial opens Matins in the Hours of the Virgin. The image within the open space of the ‘D’ in Domine portrays St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary and grandmother to Jesus Christ, teaching Mary how to read.
The book is one of St. Anne’s attributes. It represents St. Anne’s station as a wealthy woman but, more importantly, it also symbolises the dissemination of knowledge (by its being open) and, when displayed in this context, the education and literacy of women. The starry crown and vivid blue gown worn by the youthful Mary are symbols of her status as the Queen of Heaven.
The flower held by St. Anne in her left hand is difficult to see but may be a lily, often associated with the Virgin Mary for its symbolic purity.
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5
Open image in new window
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5
Iconography in religious works was not limited to the sacred. The margins of numerous mediaeval and Renaissance manuscripts are full of decorative and imaginative secular images, and many manuscript patrons understood the importance of their own iconography as demonstrated in this Book of Hours.
This image depicts Lady Margery Fitzherbert and her husband, who purchased the manuscript for his wife and commissioned a local English scriptorium to add further leaves. The couple is shown kneeling in prayer.
By being included in this fashion Lord and Lady Fitzherbert not only showed themselves as educated and devout patrons, but also created their own iconography that offered the means by which they wished to be portrayed to future generations.
A composite Book of Hours, in Latin. Southern Netherlands and England, fifteenth century. Reed MS5
Open image in new window
