The John Ruskin Hours is a lavishly coloured and meticulously executed prayer book that was made in Flanders for an unknown, possibly English, couple in the late 15th century. The artistic repertoire of the book includes not only countless large and small initials in gold, blue, and red, but also eleven full miniatures with four-sided borders. Nine of the miniatures are accompanied by a historiated initial with a full border on the opposite next page. Brilliant colours, remarkable religious scenes and playful borders featuring apes, plants and exotic birds render this book into a veritable gallery between two covers.
These artworks showcase various artistic influences and feature four distinct hands: Most borders have been exercised by the workshop of Lieven van Lathem, painter for Philipp the Good and Charles the Bold of Burgundy. The majority of the full miniatures have been painted by an illuminator known as the Master of the Vie de Saint Colette, while the Second Master of the Grand Chroniques de France is possibly responsible for the miniatures depicting David in Prayer, Pentecost and the Annunciation. A fourth artist, the finest hand in the present manuscript, created the nine grisaille initials, catching the eye with their high quality and unusual choices of motifs: The painter deviates from the standard sequence of events from the life of David and adds rarely seen Old Testament scenes such as Achior bound to a tree instead. Of further interest is the presence of English saints in the calendar, hinting at the possible origin of the manuscript’s patrons.
This one-of-a-kind manuscript is a witness to the great collectors of the 19th century: Having been acquired by John Ruskin and passed down to his friend Arthur Severn and his admirer John Howard Whitehouse, this book of hours was always recognized for its outstanding artistry.
