User:SStevens97/Taymouth Hours

The Taymouth Hours (British Library, Yates Thompson MS 13) is an illuminated Book of Hours produced in England in about 1325–35. It is named after Taymouth Castle where it was kept after being acquired by an earl of Breadalbane by the 17th or 18th century.

Most pages have a bas-de-page illustration, often accompanied by a caption in Anglo Norman French or Latin. A few have bilingual captions that include Middle English. The illustrations include both sacred and secular scenes. Picture-narratives of the stories of Bevis of Hampton (ff. 8v–12) and Guy of Warwick (ff. 12v–17) appear at the beginning of the text, while below Matins of the Hours of the Virgin (ff. 60v–67v) are 15 scenes depicting a tale of a damsel captured by a wild man.

There have been numerous attempts to identify the book's patron; suggestions include Isabella of France (wife of Edward II) and her daughter Joan of the Tower. In the most recent detailed study, Kathryn Smith proposes that the Taymouth Hours was commissioned by Philippa of Hainault, consort of Edward III; Smith further suggests that Philippa ordered the book for Edward's sister, Eleanor of Woodstock, who was then 13 years old.