Prayer books on display through holidays at area museum

   Painted Prayers, an upcoming exhibit at the Kimbell Art Museum will display Medieval and Renaissance books of hours, prayer books used by ordinary men and women that contain some of the most exquisite paintings and prints created during the era.
   The exhibit, on display from Oct. 12 through Jan. 18, will feature 58 of the finest manuscripts and printed books of hours.
   The books of hours were produced by hand and by press in greater quantities than any other type of book from about 1250 to about 1550.
   Visitors to the exhibit will be able to examine the various images depicted in the books of hours, their role as religious texts in the lives of their owners and the artists.
   Guests will also be able to "walk through" a typical book of the hours.
   The first section focuses on calendars; the second is devoted to the four Gospel lessons and so forth, ending with the Office of the Dead.
   Dr. Timothy Potts, director of the museum, said that Printed Prayers will provide a fascinating area of medieval and Renaissance art, and the subject matter makes it appropriate for the upcoming holiday season.