Hold Close: Identity and intimacy in late medieval books of hours

Starting September 26, Rijksmuseum Meermanno presents a special overview of over thirty late medieval books of hours from the museum's collection, in dialogue with modern and contemporary work by female and queer artists. The museum manages a high quality international collection in this field, and this exhibition brings these historical books into dialogue with a contemporary generation of makers, to explore the intersection between the personal and the worldly.

Special attention in the exhibition goes to female patrons, owners, and users. The traditional image of the late Middle Ages is often determined by a male-dominated historiography concerning ecclesiastical power, politics, and war. Those who zoom in on these manuscripts see a different perspective. These books provide access to the personal world of the women who commissioned, owned, and used them. Portraits, calendar notes, personal annotations, and traces of use sometimes bring the original owners surprisingly close.

Books of hours contain prayers that were read at fixed times of the day and were intended for personal use. Many books were specially commissioned. Owners could have their book adapted to their personal taste and preferences. The richly illustrated books of hours were crafted with precious materials and were valuable possessions. At the same time, they were not books meant only to be looked at: they were held, read, written in, and carried along. Through intensive use, traces of all these actions have been preserved in the books. Thus, they not only tell something about the faith of their time, but also about the people who owned and used them.

For the exhibition, we are collaborating with María Pandiello (Donostia, 1981), an art historian with nearly twenty years of experience studying late medieval manuscripts and early printed books from the 15th and 16th centuries, who is also a musician and the founder and manager of the popular Instagram account @visions_of_manuscripts.

One of the masterpieces on display in the exhibition is a book of hours made around 1460 for the Lochorst couple, which is attributed to the Master of Catherine of Cleves. The richly decorated manuscript is considered a highlight of late medieval manuscript illumination. Also on view is a book of hours that belonged to Barbara van Hertsvelde and Willem Moreel, known for their portraits by Hans Memling. Another extraordinary object is one of the last surviving girdle books in the world: a book that became part of someone's clothing because its shape allowed it to be easily worn on a belt.

In the exhibition, the historical manuscripts enter into a dialogue with late medieval artifacts and modern and contemporary works by artists including Raphaëlle Benzimra, Dolf Henkes, Natasja Kensmil, and Marenne Welten. Dakota Magdalena Mokhammad and Denys Shantar will create new work specifically for the exhibition, inspired by the books on display. The work of the seven artists offers new perspectives on themes such as history, faith, rituals, and identity, and brings us closer to the original owners and users of the books of hours through personal stories and fascinations.

Although they are now the centerpiece of our exhibition, these historical books were exclusively intended for personal, daily use. The museum wants to make this hidden, intimate character tangible for the public and is launching a special initiative. Between October and February, thirty lucky visitors will get the chance for a unique one-on-one encounter with history. Under the expert guidance of a staff member, they will be allowed to leaf through an authentic book of hours and experience it up close.

The exhibition ‘Hold Close: Identity and intimacy in late medieval books of hours’ is made possible in part by financial support from the Mondriaan Fund, Zabawas, M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt, Hendrik Mullerfonds, De Gijselaar-Hintzenfonds, Gilles Hondius Foundation, the Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain, the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), and the Friends of Rijksmuseum Meermanno.

Images:

*Meester van Katherina van Kleef, Lochorst Getijdenboek, Utrecht, ca. 1460 (010 F 050)
Coll. Rijksmuseum Meermanno
Photo: The Book Photographer

*Getijdenboek, Zuidelijke Nederlanden, 15de eeuw (010 E 002)
Coll. Rijksmuseum Meermanno
Photo: The Book Photographer

*Getijdenboek, Utrecht, ca. 1500 (010 F 005)
Coll. Rijksmuseum Meermanno
Photo: The Book Photographer

*Raphaëlle Benzimra, Marie-Madeleine Pénitente, 2026
Photo: Max Borderie. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Jousse Entreprise, Paris.