Book of Hours of Jeanne d'Évreux

This tiny prayer book was copied by a gifted anonymous scribe, who fixed the text on extremely thin, transparent vellum in magnificently regular letters. The miniatures from the workshop of Jean Pucelle are all done in grisaille using a rich scale of grey shades. Three cycles of illustrations were provided for Jeanne’s personal devotions. The first two encompass eight scenes from the childhood of Christ and another eight from the Passion. The third depicts nine episodes from the life of King Louis, who was canonised in 1297 and passionately honoured at the French court.

The devotion for Vespers begins with a painting of the Flight to Egypt (folio 83r). The composition of the picture opposite (folio 82v), the Lamentation of the Dead Christ, is probably inspired by Duccio.