The Martyrdom of Saint John the Evangelist (recto), and December Calendar (verso), from Book of Hours

Around 1488, engraver and printer Philippe Pigouchet and bookseller Simon Vostre embarked on a successful business partnership in Paris, and over the next 20 years they produced hundreds of exquisitely illustrated books. This leaf is taken from a book of hours, a Christian devotional publication containing psalms, prayers, and a calendar for worship and celebrations. It depicts the miracle of Saint John, when he emerged unharmed from a vat of boiling oil. The image is an illustration for the
month of December, the calendar on the sheet’s verso, reminding readers to celebrate Saint John’s Feast Day on December 27.