Page - 25 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 07/01

Materiality of Religious Books | 25www.jrfm.eu 2021, 7/1, 13–32 sion in terms of script, decoration and confection. Although sometimes also finely executed,15 other categories of liturgical book were broadly speaking considered more auxiliary. However, the Gospel book has always retained its distinguished ranking among religious books. Many parishes of various con- fessional denominations have their standard lectionary for everyday use and a considerably more lavish Gospel book for special solemnities during the liturgical year or for use on other specific occasions. Object of Pious Devotion The Book of Hours, largely associated with the Middle Ages, is possibly the category of ancient book best known today, as a good number have been produced in facsimile. They lend themselves well to engagement with today’s audiences on account of their marvellous physical appearance – the presenta- tion of the text, the opulent illumination and decoration16 and the exclusive binding – as a product of pure luxury. The Book of Hours was designed and designated for private use, a kind of breviary for noble lay persons. Christopher De Hamel’s description is helpful: By the late thirteenth century the fashion among the secular nobility was for a new type of portable devotional compendium in which selected psalms and prayers were already prearranged into an appropriate order for recita- tion by the laity at times of the day corresponding to each of the old monas- tic hours from Matins to Compline. These short cycles were dedicated to specific religious themes or saints, principally the Virgin Mary, whose cult was becoming increasingly prominent in the later Middle Ages.17 The Book of Hours provided two points of access for its user: texts for private recitation in line with the official prayers of the church (spiritual nourishment) and many distractions in the form of places on the page where the eye might linger, remaining with a gilded initial letter here, with the drolleries, flowers, animals or arabesques and tendrils there, or with manifold other features in the margins. It is evident that such a book would foster its user’s emotional appropriation. At the same time, this book tells of social status and distinction. 15 Renhart 2010, 39–51. 16 On account of their opulent illuminations, a number of such books came to be designated “très riches heures”, as in the case of the Book of Hours of the Duc du Berry. 17 De Hamel 2016, 387.