The images found in the “Office of the Dead” portion of The Book of Hours are very interesting to me. Bible scenes, with the exception of interpretations of the Last Judgement, aren’t actually the most common images in this section, which seems strange in a book so devoted to saints, prayers, and depictions of scenes specifically found in the Bible. In fact, the very first image right across from the description of what is contained within the “Office of the Dead” is very grim and grotesque. Skulls are intertwined with serpents and dismembered bones as decoration around the central image of a grim-reaper like skeleton wielding a scythe. This image is foreboding, and a little bit scary as well, which could serve as a source of reverence in the power of death for the person praying. These images serve as a reminder and are powerful images that force the devoted to think about the future and their fate. I find it very interesting how death was depicted in this prayerful book, and according to the description the images only got more dire as the centuries progressed.
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I noticed that a few people chose to comment on this section of the Books of Hours, probably because these illuminations seem so different. I totally agree with you that the grotesque depictions of death are a little surprising in a prayerful book. In the description of the section it is noted that these prayers are “intended to be said over the coffin.” That being said, I still find the grim nature of the illuminations surprising. I would suspect the illuminations to be more about embracing death and less about mourning. The skeletons are particularly surprising, as they add a very depressing tone to many of the illuminations. There are a few images in this section with depictions of angles, vibrant colors, and celebrations of a life lived rather than the mourning of a life lost, which is what I would expect from this section. Others, however, are filled with mourners dressed in black, are bordered by skeletons, and depict hardships (like the one you mentioned in the original post). I agree with your conclusion that the more powerful images cause devoters to think about their future and fate, but still question the necessity of such vivid details of death.