Bedford Book of Hours to go on display

The Bedford Book of Hours, described as "an outstanding work of late medieval manuscript art", is to go on display at the British Library next week.

The lavishly illustrated book is described as "the finest manuscript to survive from the renowned library of John, the Duke of Bedford (brother of King Henry V of England)".

It appears alongside the Sobieski Hours, another richly illustrated 15th century manuscript, which has been lent by The Queen for the purposes of this exhibition entitled The Bedford Hours: Owners and Illuminators.

Both books are the work of the 15th century artist known as the Bedford Master.

It had previously been thought that the Bedford Hours was made to commemorate the duke's marriage to Anne of Burgundy on 13 May 1423, as their portraits appear in its pages. However, the manuscript was probably started earlier, between 1410 and 1415, for another patron. The duke was English regent in France from 1422 to 1435.

(By James Burleigh, Daily Telegraphy - 17 March 2007)