Book of Hours

c. 1440
At first glance, this Book of Hours appears as yet another straightforward example of a married woman’s prayerbook. The domestic scene depicting the child Christ with Joseph and Mary on Folio pp.146-149 of MS M.917/945 provides many clues about the ideals of a marriage, emphasizing an orderly division of labor and a content child. By contrast, Catherine of Cleve’s own hate-filled marriage ended in amidst violent political turmoil.
The Morgan Library & Museum

Folio pp.146-149 of the Book of Hours of Catherine of Cleves. [Source](https://www.themorgan.org/collection/Hours-of-Catherine-of-Cleves)

Folio pp.146-149 of the Book of Hours of Catherine of Cleves. Source

Connection to Website Themes

Spousal Power Dyanmics: By the time Catherine commissioned this Book of Hours, her marriage to Arnold of Egmond had already fallen apart. Arnold disinherited their son and eventually imprisoned the heir to the Duchy of Guelders. To console her, the manuscript creator eliminated all trace of Arnold from this Book of Hours. The child in the peasant cottage, representing Christ, says ‘I am your solace.’ This manuscript, as an object, highlights the ideal of domestic harmony. Catherine herself took political action, attempting to remove her husband from power and install her son.

Community Social Norms: This object presents domestic harmony, using Joseph and Mary as exemplars. Certainly as Catherine sought political allies, her violation of the ideal of a submissive wife hurt her political campaign to oust her husband from power. Arnold, benefitting from the social sanction normally imposed on a wife in rebellion, gathered enough support to reverse Catherine’s initial victory against him.

Church and State: Catherine sought to project the image of a devout adherent to Christian devotion. This Book of Hours, and adherence to its devotional practice, would help her to garner support from eccesiastical authorites. A tumultuous episode of political strife, Catherine’s disastrous marriage became closely intertwined with the power of the State in Guelders.

What is Love: The contrast between the marriage scenes in this Book of Hours and what happened in Catherine’s marriage emphasizes the potential for high emotionality in medieval marriages.