Gabriel and the Hour Book

Description

And so these brothers, who lived in monasteries and abbeys, made it their chief work to preserve and multiply all the books worth keeping. They ornamented the pages with beautiful borders of flowers, birds, saints, angels, and such lovely initial letters; all in bright pleasing colours and gold.

Gabriel, a young peasant, was proud to grind and mix the colours for the monks. When King Louis XII requested a beautifully illuminated hour book for his future wife, Lady Anne of Bretagne, Gabriel gladly assisted Brother Stephen in creating it.

This thoughtfully written story of friendship, faith, and kindness makes for a wonderful family read-aloud during Christmastime.

Illustrated by Adelaide Everhart in both colour and black and white.

Historical note: If you’d like to see some of the pages from book of hours, which was commissioned by Queen Anne from Jean Bourdichon, who was King Louis XII’s court painter, you can see them here from getty.edu.

Brother Stephen is somewhat based on Jean Bourdichon, the author tells us his name was Jean before entering the Abbey.