A stunning volume, accompanying an exhibition held in Cologne between December 2001 and May 2002, which discusses and catalogues illuminations from late medieval prayer books which depict scenes of birth and death. Numerous hand-painted illustrations from thirty-four books, dating from the 13th to 16th century and now held in private German collections, are published in full colour accompanied by detailed descriptions. The catalogue is preceded by a discussion of the function and craftsmanship of these works of art. German text.