Hours of Gian Galeazzo Visconti

This particular Book of Hours was created by two master illuminators, beginning with Giovannino dei Grassi before his death, and completed by Luchino Belbello da Pavia.

[4] The pages are decorated in a distinctly Italian late Gothic style, containing symbol-like floral ornamentation that does not directly reference flowers or plants found in nature.

The first artist commissioned was the master Italian illuminator Giovannino dei Grassi; after the latter’s death the work was completed by Luchino Belbello da Pavia.

[citation needed] Visconti was the first Duke of Milan and is accredited with creating the first modern bureaucracy due to the system of administration and programs he implemented, including a program of bookkeeping, "committing to books and ledgers the minutest items of his private expenditure and the outgoings of his public purse…"[5] Born in Milan in about 1350, Giovannino dei Grassi was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, and celebrated illuminator.

This notebook is considered one of the most important examples of late Gothic Italian art and consisted of scenes of daily activities, animals, and images from nature, as well as illuminated letters.