Leaf from a Breviary, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum
Leaf from a Breviary, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum
[France, early 14th century]
202 x 151 mm, 33 lines written in a regular gothic bookhand in two columns, rulings in blind, rubrics and one-line initials in red, with four large penwork initials, in red with blue flourishing, or blue with red flourishing (one large initial on verso faded, light marginal creasing).
A leaf from the Psalter section of a Breviary, the initials marking the openings of Psalms 29-32. The entire Psalter was recited weekly in the Divine Office.
The Breviary is one of the most common and essential types of medieval manuscript to survive. It is the liturgical book which unites the words for both chanted and spoken texts required for the celebration of the Divine Office, which was recited by monks (monastic use) and the secular clergy (in churches), divided into eight hours. To chant the office, texts were needed from the Psalter, Bible, Antiphonal, Hymnary, Collectar and Lectionary; from the 11th century they began to be collected together into one book. This leaf is from a nice example in a very attractive hand from early 14th century France; it has survived in very good and clean condition, though it was clearly in regular and constant use for some time. Two other leaves from the same parent manuscript recently also came to market in the USA but have now been sold.
Another three leaves are available upon request.
Leaf from a Breviary, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum
[France, early 14th century]
202 x 151 mm, 33 lines written in a regular gothic bookhand in two columns, rulings in blind, rubrics and one-line initials in red, with four large penwork initials, in red with blue flourishing, or blue with red flourishing (one large initial on verso faded, light marginal creasing).
A leaf from the Psalter section of a Breviary, the initials marking the openings of Psalms 29-32. The entire Psalter was recited weekly in the Divine Office.
The Breviary is one of the most common and essential types of medieval manuscript to survive. It is the liturgical book which unites the words for both chanted and spoken texts required for the celebration of the Divine Office, which was recited by monks (monastic use) and the secular clergy (in churches), divided into eight hours. To chant the office, texts were needed from the Psalter, Bible, Antiphonal, Hymnary, Collectar and Lectionary; from the 11th century they began to be collected together into one book. This leaf is from a nice example in a very attractive hand from early 14th century France; it has survived in very good and clean condition, though it was clearly in regular and constant use for some time. Two other leaves from the same parent manuscript recently also came to market in the USA but have now been sold.
Another three leaves are available upon request.
Leaf from a Breviary, in Latin, decorated manuscript on vellum
[France, early 14th century]
202 x 151 mm, 33 lines written in a regular gothic bookhand in two columns, rulings in blind, rubrics and one-line initials in red, with four large penwork initials, in red with blue flourishing, or blue with red flourishing (one large initial on verso faded, light marginal creasing).
A leaf from the Psalter section of a Breviary, the initials marking the openings of Psalms 29-32. The entire Psalter was recited weekly in the Divine Office.
The Breviary is one of the most common and essential types of medieval manuscript to survive. It is the liturgical book which unites the words for both chanted and spoken texts required for the celebration of the Divine Office, which was recited by monks (monastic use) and the secular clergy (in churches), divided into eight hours. To chant the office, texts were needed from the Psalter, Bible, Antiphonal, Hymnary, Collectar and Lectionary; from the 11th century they began to be collected together into one book. This leaf is from a nice example in a very attractive hand from early 14th century France; it has survived in very good and clean condition, though it was clearly in regular and constant use for some time. Two other leaves from the same parent manuscript recently also came to market in the USA but have now been sold.
Another three leaves are available upon request.