Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How were landscapes used in European Books of Hours during the 15th century?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Landscape painting
River Landscape in the Late Afternoon, oil on canvas by Adriaen van de Velde, 1663; in a private collection.
During the 15th century, landscapes in European Books of Hours evolved from simple backgrounds into sophisticated, three-dimensional settings that significantly enhanced the devotional experience.1
The development of these landscapes was driven by the work of skilled manuscript painters who, following earlier interests in settings, began producing increasingly impressive natural and architectural environments. Key aspects of their use included:1
- Calendar Illustrations: Artists used landscapes to depict the seasonal activities of both nobility and peasants, as famously seen in the calendar pages of the Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry.12
- Atmospheric Depth: Influenced by broader trends in Flemish painting, manuscript painters began to observe the effects of light and shadow, using them to define form and convey specific moods within a scene.3
- Integration with Narrative: Landscapes served as immersive backdrops for biblical scenes and illustrations of the lives of saints, helping to ground these religious narratives in recognizable, albeit often idealized, environments.12
By the early 15th century, these illuminations had become a hallmark of the period's artistic output, reflecting a growing fascination with pictorial structure and realistic observation.1