University of Pittsburgh

Frick Fine Arts Library

Book of Hours

The Office of the Virgin

The Office of the Virgin is based on the Divine Office, the daily cycle of prayer used by members of religious communities. This is a briefer version meant for the laity, to be prayed 8 times during the day. Each hour of prayer consists of psalms, reading from scripture, and other prayers. The approximate times for prayer and their respective names are: 2:30am, Matins; 5:00 am, Lauds; 6:00 am, Prime; 9:00 am, Tierce; noon, Sext; 3:00 pm, None; 4:30pm, Vespers; and 6:00 pm, Compline. In the Frick Book of Hours, as is common with other manuscripts of this type, each section is opened by a miniature. The miniatures in this manuscript are scenes from the childhood of Christ, culminating with the Coronation of the Virgin by God who wears a papal tiara.

F. 35r Matins. The Annunciation with five scenes in the border from the life of the Virgin.

F. 35r Top left of the Annunciation miniature,  an angel plays the harp.

F. 35r Top right of the  Annunciation miniature,  the birth of the Virgin.

F. 35r Right hand border of the  Annunciation miniature, the  Presentation of the Virgin.

F. 35r Bottom right of the  Annunciation miniature,  the Annunciation

F. 35r Bottom left of the  Annunciation miniature,  the marriage of the Virgin.

LAUDS F. 63v The Visitation, the meeting between Mary and Elizabeth, with Joseph in the background raising his cap.

PRIME F. 77r The Nativity, with Mary and Joseph adoring in the Christ Child in the stable with the ox and the ass in the background.

TIERCE F. 84r The Annunciation of the birth  of the Christ Child to the shepherds  in the fields.

SEXT F. 89r The adoration of the Magi  before Mary and the Christ Child in the stable.

NONE F. 94r The Presentation of the Christ  Child to Simeon in the Temple.

VESPERS F. 99r The Fight into Egypt, with  Joseph leading the donkey as Mary  and Jesus ride. Note the falling idol in the background.

COMPLINE F. 107v In the Coronation of the Virgin, Mary  kneels before God who wears a papal tiara,  as the angel holding the crown hovers overhead.