Liège, Southern Netherlands, 1270s. State Library of Victoria, RARES 096 R66, fols 19v–20 (cat no 42).

As well as a psalter, this extensively illuminated prayer book contains an illustrated calendar, four Offices, or Hours, in honour of the Virgin Mary, the litany of the saints, the Office of the Dead, the Marian psalter and a French poem in honour of the Passion. Its lay owner must have been a person of considerable means, who presumably devoted a substantial portion of the day to private prayer. A series of full-page miniatures of the life of Christ preface the psalter, leading up to the Ascension and Pentecost, which also serve to introduce Psalm 1. The illumination is by an artist who had a prolific workshop originating in Hainault.