The third quarter of the fifteenth century is considered one of the heydays of the handwritten book in the Southern Netherlands. Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, played a prominent role by commissioning various manuscripts for his library. The majority of these manuscripts were luxuriously executed and richly illuminated by artists recruited from all parts of his realm. Among the many splendid items made at the time Philip's personal Book of Hours occupies a special place. It was copied by the scribe, calligrapher and translator, Jean Miélot, at the time ‘secrétaire aux honneurs’ to the Duke. Its large and bulky size as well as the unusual texts of the manuscript, such as the Hours of the days of the week with the corresponding masses, are fitting for its noble owner. The 165 miniatures illuminating the work were for the greater part executed by Jean de Tavernier, an illuminator from Audenarde, specialised in grisaille painting, a painting technique using only shades of white and grey. The miniature reproduced on the opposite page, representing the Adoration of the Magi, is a fine example of the delicate atmosphere that can be evoked by this technique. The richly attired kings, traditionally personifying the three ages of man, approach with their gifts from the left. To the right the Virgin Mary is seated with the Christ child in her lap before a four-poster bed with its canopies tied up, which was obviously improvised for the occasion from some pieces of timber. Joseph and the ox can be seen in the background. The manuscript was indeed made for Philip the Good as may be deduced from his motto ‘Aultre naray’ in some places, and from the fact that he himself is depicted praying in several miniatures.

The manuscript came into the possession of the Koninklijke Bibliotheek as part of the collection of the Belgian historian G.J. Gérard. He had been curator of the Burgundian library for a long period of time, and it has been assumed that he allocated a number of manuscripts, including this Book of Hours, a place in his own library while holding this office.