A Book of Hours made in a single day
Starts 24 July | £415 | Online
Book now
A Book of Hours made over the course of one day (but not necessarily completed in the 24 hour period). This summer's painting performance class! Paint all the canonical hours in their correct time periods - which will vary according to where you are on earth - so yours may be staggered. We will overlap in the middle. Rites vary depending on the church (Byzantine, Syriac, Armenian - who also would have known about Islamic-style bookbinding) and you are welcome to adapt your breviary to your own natural rhythm. The European Books of Hours are absolutely stunning and there are a wealth of images I encourage you to feast your eyes on online, apart from the famed Tres Riches Heures du Duc de Berry images shown here. You could even be inspired by the images in your research as well as the actual time of day you're painting, so it could even end up as a (day)dream book depending on the level of tiredness/stimulant consumption.
A bright red small pocket book you can use as a form of prayer book. Summer is a great time for all-nighters; practise being a monk!
Times of sessions:
1. Matins 12am (midnight)
2. Lauds 3am (early morning)
3. Prime, the first hour, 6am (first hour of daylight)
4. Terce 9am (third hour)
5. Sext 12pm (midday)
6. None 3pm (ninth hour)
7. Vespers 6pm (sunset evening)
8. Compline 9pm (end of the day)
All times are London time BST. I will start each class at the time specified above and each session will last for an hour each. Videos will be made available for catch up.
You are welcome to drift in and out and nap in between. That is to say: the first session starts at midnight on 24 July, and the last session is at 9pm on 24 July.
Since these are book classes, we will also be developing our bookmaking skills and learning new book cover techniques with the leather gradually. The books are also getting gradually bigger (unless they are specifically miniature - or grandiose - books).
Class includes a bespoke handmade leather envelope-flap cover to paint and free postage to anywhere in the world. Sent separately depending on production schedules. Make your own library of handmade books!
Upcoming Sessions
Dates: 24 July 2023 to 25 Jul 2023
Total of 1 sessions on Monday 24 July, 24 hours
I want to go live in a convent for a day and work on a book of hours!