Illuminated manuscript page with naturalistic border of birds, insects, and flowers

This page or leaf from a Book of Hours is a beautiful early example of the so-called Ghent-Bruges style of illusionistic manuscript painting as practiced in southern Belgium around 1500. In these private devotional books, not only the prayers themselves but the visual imagery can be seen to reflect the owner’s piety. In this case, the lifelike leaves and blossoms in the border may be intended to recall the practice of pressing flowers collected during a pilgrimage. In this way, the floral detailing works to evoke the memory of a pious activity to further stimulate devout thoughts. —Ashley Koca ’25