Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.

Hours of Henry VIII

181. MS H.8, fols. 174v–175r
182. MS H.8, fols. 175v–176r
183. MS H.8, fols. 176v–177r
184. MS H.8, fols. 177v–178r
185. MS H.8, fols. 178v–179r
186. MS H.8, fols. 179v–180r
187. MS H.8, fols. 180v–181r
188. MS H.8, fols. 181v–182r
189. MS H.8, fols. 182v–183r
190. MS H.8, fols. 183v–184r
191. MS H.8, fols. 184v–185r
192. MS H.8, fols. 185v–186r
Two figures, one male and one female holding hands while walking on a path with a small white dog to the right.

Illuminated around 1500 by the artist Jean Poyer, The Hours of Henry VIII receives its name from the possible but unproven eighteenth-century tradition that holds King Henry of England once owned this splendid manuscript. By following the simple instructions, you can explore every painting of this Renaissance masterpiece and learn how Books of Hours helped their readers to pray. 

Books of Hours contain more or less standard texts—Calendar, Gospel Lessons, Hours of the Virgin, Hours of the Cross, Hours of the Holy Spirit, Penitential Psalms with Litany, Office of the Dead, and Suffrages—as well as a number of common accessory prayers. Based on the frequency and variety of added devotions, it appears that scribes included these for owners who wished to personalize their prayer books.

Also by Jean Poyer: The Prayer Book of Anne de Bretagne »