Leaf from a Book of Hours: Hours of the Holy Spirit (Pentecost)

In addition to the Hours of the Virgin, some books of hours also had an Hours of the Holy Spirit. This section typically began with a depiction of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the twelve apostles and enabled them to speak in various languages. Though the biblical text does not mention the Virgin Mary, medieval illuminators often incorporated her into Pentecost scenes. Here, she sits directly beneath the Holy Spirit, shown in the form of a radiant dove, while the twelve apostles form a group around her. By representing Mary with a book in her lap, this image functioned as a model of pious reading for lay readers of this book of hours.