I bought this card for myself today. It is one of the pages from the 206 paged medieval Book of Hours which is now in the Condé Museum outside Paris. The original is such a poor condition that it isn't on view to the public but it dates from the 15th century so it's hardly surprising.
A Book of Hours is a set of prayers and psalms to be recited during the day. Each of them is generally beautifully decorated, illuminated manuscripts. They were popular in the late Middle Ages. Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry has illustrations for each month, the one above being September. The peasants are gathering the grape harvest and taking it into the château, The Château of Saumur.
I have been wanting these postcards for a long time but they were very expensive - double the price of the ones I usually buy, so this was the only one I bought. Of course I regret it now.
That is a beautiful book indeed! I just looked at the other months, very impressive.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful, isn't it.
DeleteI can see why you bought it, it is very beautiful
ReplyDeleteThanks, Odie.
DeleteIt is beautiful
ReplyDeleteThanks to you too, Jo-Anne.
DeleteI know you find it helpful to know when to say what prayer.
ReplyDeleteVery helpful indeed. Do you want to borrow it?
DeleteThat is gorgeous! I would love to own a copy of that book! It boggles my mind that this would not be possible. Light can be destructive so there would be no way to copy or scan this fragile text!
ReplyDeleteI always regret not buying small things like postcards or knickknacks because then I go blow 4x that on an expensive coffee or something.