The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France 1324 - 1328

This is a folio from The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux, Queen of France, made around 1324-28 by Jean Pucelle. The book is made of vellum – calfskin prepared to receive ink – and the images are painted in tempera and ink, with touches of gold leaf. The method of making this book reveals a great deal. Vellum is a tough material, demanding great skill to prepare. The script and images would have been carefully planned and executed, and then painted in layers, building up the forms. Note the subtle gradations of tone, achieved by the artist's deft handling of the brush. Books like this were luxury goods, commissioned by wealthy patrons. The cost of the materials and the time required to produce them meant that they were out of reach for most people. The Hours of Jeanne d'Evreux is a reminder of the vast social and economic inequalities that existed in the Middle Ages, and the skilled labor required to create such an object. It's a testament to Pucelle's mastery of his materials.