The Hours of Simon de Varie

James H. Marrow
With a contribution by François Avril

Leading French painters in the late medieval period executed miniatures for lavishly illuminated books of hours. In the mid-fifteenth century, Simon de Varie commissioned such a book that included works by the most eminent French painter of the time, Jean Fouquet, as well as striking paintings by two of his contemporaries. The Hours of Simon de Varie reproduces in color all the miniatures and historiated initials in the original manuscript, along with selected text pages displaying secondary decoration. Comparative illustrations also accompany the essays by James H. Marrow and François Avril.

"This small book registers many of the attitudes of its patrons and makers while also evidencing superb craftsmanship and beauty."
—Letter Arts Review