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Walters Ms. W.189, Book of Hours

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Shelf mark

W.189


Manuscript

Book of Hours


Text title
Book of Hours

Abstract

This Book of Hours was likely produced in Bruges ca. 1480-90, as evinced by the saints in the calendar. The provenance is not certain, however, since Bayeux and St. Riquier are also attested by the litany and usage of the Office of the Dead. The book's lavish full-page miniatures in black-grisailles, as well as the facing opening of the Hours, are enframed with foliate borders and drolleries, and have been attributed to the circle of Willem Vrelant and the so-called Master of the Black Prayerbook. Gold was employed for the details of the illuminations, bringing light to the monochrome scenes. Similarly, the text is enlightened by gold-speckled large initials for the opening of each of the Hours, and small ones for minor divisions of the text throughout the manuscript.


Date

Ca. 1480-90


Origin

Flanders (Bruges?)


Artist

Supplied name: Master of the Black Prayerbook


Artist

Supplied name: Circle of Willem Vrelant


Form

Book


Genre

Devotional


Language:

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin. The secondary language of this manuscript is Dutch; Flemish.


Support material

Parchment

Thin to medium-weight parchment, thicker for inserted illuminated leaves; standard preparation, parchment grimed from use; gilt edges; first two folios cropped at lower right corners


Extent

Foliation: 132

Modern pencil foliation, upper right corners, rectos; second earlier set of numbers evident above modern foliation on fols. 20, 24, 32, 38, 40, 44, 48, 51, 55, 56, 67, 84, 85, 98, 115


Collation

Formula: Quires 1-2: 6 (fols. 1-12); Quire 3: 8, with first, fourth, and seventh folios added (fols. 13-23); Quire 4: 8, with eighth folio added (fols. 24-32); Quire 5: 10, with bifoliate 4-5 after fol. 35, seventh folio added (fols. 33-42) (fols. 43-45) (fols. 46-55) (fols. 56-66) (fols. 67-75); Quire 9: 8, with eighth folio added (fols. 76-84); Quire 11: 8 (fols. 85-92); Quire 12: 8 (fols. 93-100); Quire 13: 8 (fols. 101-108); Quire 14: 6, with first folio added (fols. 109-115); Quire 15: 6, with first folio cancelled, stub visible (fols. 116-120); Quire 16: 8, with stub after eighth folio, leaf cancelled(?) (fols. 121-128); Quire 17: 4 (fols. 129-132)

Comments:


Dimensions

12.2 cm wide by 16.8 cm high


Written surface

6.3 cm wide by 9.84 cm high


Layout
  1. Columns: 1
  2. Ruled lines: 19-20
  3. Red ink ruling for text and calendar

Contents:
fols. 1r - 132v:
  1. Title: Book of Hours
  2. Hand note: Written in irregular textura
  3. Decoration note: Fourteen full-page grisaille illuminations with facing acanthus and flower borders at opening of each Hour; large (5-6 lines) grisaille initials on gold-speckled ground for major text divisions, and smaller initials (1-2 lines) for minor text divisions; drolleries on fols. 13v and 17r for the Hours of the Holy Spirit and the Cross; fol. 121r has bracket-shaped panel enclosing text on three sides; rubrics in red; text in brown and black ink
fols. 1r - 12v:
  1. Title: Calendar
  2. Contents: Calendar in Dutch, one-fourth filled; major Bruges feasts in red; saints of note include Basil (fol. 6r); Eligius (fols. 6v and 12r) and Bavo (fol. 10r); a few erasures, irregular spellings, and early additions
fols. 13v - 15v:
  1. Title: Hours of the Holy Spirit
  2. Rubric: Shelichs gheest getide
  3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
  4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature fol. 13v with facing foliate borders and drolleries
fols. 16v - 18v:
  1. Title: Hours of the Cross
  2. Rubric: Shelichs cruus ghetide
  3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
  4. Decoration note: Full-page illumination fol. 16v with facing foliate borders and drolleries
fols. 19v - 61v:
  1. Title: Hours of the Virgin
  2. Rubric: Hier begunt onse vrauwe ghetide
  3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
  4. Contents: Fols. 20r-30v: Matins; fols. 32r-38v: Lauds; fols. 40r-42v: Prime; fols. 44r-46v: Terce; fols. 48r-49v: Sext; fols. 51r-52v: None; fols. 54r-57v: Vespers; fols. 59r-61v: Compline
  5. Hand note: Five full-page grisailles miniatures with facing borders at the beginning of each Hour, fols. 19v, 31v, 39v, 43v, 47v, 50v, 53v, and 58v
fols. 62v - 69v:
  1. Title: Advent Office of the Virgin
  2. Rubric: Hier begunt de matten van marie in den advent. ende si ghedueret tot mede winter
  3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
  4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature fol. 62v with facing foliate borders
fols. 70v - 82v:
  1. Title: Seven Penitential Psalms, litany, and collects
  2. Incipit: Domine ne in furore tuo
  3. Contents: Fols. 71r-79r: Seven Penitential Psalms; fols. 79r-81r: Litany, including several bishops of Bayeux: Contestus, Vigor, Exuperius, Lupus, and Ragnobert; fols. 81r-82r: Petitions; fol. 82r-v: Three collects
  4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature fol. 70v with facing foliate borders
fols. 84r - 108r:
  1. Title: Office of the Dead
  2. Rubric: Hier begunnen die vigelien over alle zielen
  3. Incipit: Dilexi quoniam exaudiet Dominus
  4. Contents: Use similar to St. Riquier; text concludes with six collects praying for soul of brother Henry, intercession of Virgin, and souls
  5. Decoration note: Full-page grisaille miniature fol. 83v with facing foliate borders
fols. 109v - 120r:
  1. Title: Mass of the Virgin
  2. Rubric: Hier beghint onser vrauwe messe
  3. Incipit: Et introito ad altare Dei
  4. Contents: Fols. 109v-114r: Mass of the Virgin; fol. 114r: Prayer to Christ; fols. 114r-115r: Gospel sequence of John (1:1-14); fols. 115r-120r: Two Prayers to the Virgin
  5. Decoration note: Full-page grisailles miniature fol. 109v with facing foliate borders
fols. 121r - 132v:
  1. Title: Added prayers
  2. Rubric: Miserere mei Deus secundum
  3. Incipit: Dac ic in ydelheden dus hebbe versleten
  4. Contents: Prayer added early, a rhymed paraphrase of Psalm 50 in Dutch
  5. Decoration note: Foliate borders on three sides of fol. 121r

Decoration:

fol. 13v:

  1. W.189, fol. 13v
  2. Title: Trinity enthroned
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit
  5. Comment:

    book inscribed in gold: "Ego sum alpha trinus et novissimus"

fol. 14r:

  1. W.189, fol. 14r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Holy Spirit with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit

fol. 16v:

  1. W.189, fol. 16v
  2. Title: Crucifixion
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Cross: Matins

fol. 17r:

  1. W.189, fol. 17r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Cross with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Cross: Matins

fol. 19v:

  1. W.189, fol. 19v
  2. Title: Annunciation
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Matins
  5. Comment:

    On the scroll: "Ave gratia plena dominus tecum"

fol. 20r:

  1. W.189, fol. 20r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Matins

fol. 31v:

  1. W.189, fol. 31v
  2. Title: Visitation
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Lauds

fol. 32r:

  1. W.189, fol. 32r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Lauds

fol. 39v:

  1. W.189, fol. 39v
  2. Title: Nativity
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Prime

fol. 40r:

  1. W.189, fol. 40r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border (Prime)
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Prime

fol. 43v:

  1. W.189, fol. 43v
  2. Title: Annunciation to the shepherds
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Terce

fol. 44r:

  1. W.189, fol. 44r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border (Terce)
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Terce

fol. 47v:

  1. W.189, fol. 47v
  2. Title: Adoration of the Magi
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Sext

fol. 48r:

  1. W.189, fol. 48r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Sext

fol. 50v:

  1. W.189, fol. 50v
  2. Title: Presentation in the Temple
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: None

fol. 51r:

  1. W.189, fol. 51r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: None

fol. 53v:

  1. W.189, fol. 53v
  2. Title: Massacre of the Innocents
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Vespers

fol. 54r:

  1. W.189, fol. 54r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Vespers

fol. 58v:

  1. W.189, fol. 58v
  2. Title: Flight into Egypt
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Compline

fol. 59r:

  1. W.189, fol. 59r
  2. Title: Opening of the Hours of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Compline

fol. 62v:

  1. W.189, fol. 62v
  2. Title: Coronation of the Virgin
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Advent Office of the Virgin

fol. 63r:

  1. W.189, fol. 63r
  2. Title: Opening of the Advent Office of the Virgin with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Advent Office of the Virgin

fol. 70v:

  1. W.189, fol. 70v
  2. Title: David penitent
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Penitential Psalms

fol. 71r:

  1. W.189, fol. 71r
  2. Title: Opening of the Seven Penitential Psalms with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Penitential Psalms

fol. 83v:

  1. W.189, fol. 83v
  2. Title: Funeral service
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Office of the Dead

fol. 84r:

  1. W.189, fol. 84r
  2. Title: Opening of the Office of the Dead with foliate border
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Office of the Dead

fol. 109v:

  1. W.189, fol. 109v
  2. Title: Virgin lactans enthroned
  3. Form: Full-page miniature
  4. Text: Mass of the Virgin

fol. 110r:

  1. W.189, fol. 110r
  2. Title: Opening of the Mass of the Virgin with foliate decoration
  3. Form: Marginal illumination
  4. Text: Mass of the Virgin

Binding

The binding is not original.

Flemish, sixteenth-century brown leather binding over oak boards with wide chamfer at outer edges; modern repairs to spine; sides impressed in blind with panel stamps with the same design on both covers; St. John the Baptist preaching with seated woman and man on each side; dog seated on ground at front seen from back; St. Michael vanquishing devil; four peasants dancing at the center of the cover separate the saints' portraits; remains of green and crimson silk in tailband; former fastening at center fore-edge is now missing; panels with SS. John the Baptist and Michael are also on a Flemish Book of Hours in the Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique (iv 315), and a Greek Evangeliary in the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek (Suppl. grec. 175)


Provenance

Made likely in Bruges ca.1480-90 for owner connected to Bayeux and Flanders (see saints in the litany, fols. 79-108)

Re-bound in the second quarter of the sixteenth century in Flanders

Louvain, mid-sixteenth-century owner (inscription "...Lovanii" on fol. 1r in brown ink; name effaced)

Henry Walters, Baltimore, purchased between 1895 and 1931


Acquisition

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest


Bibliography

De Ricci, Seymour, and W. J. Wilson. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. Vol. 1. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1935; p. 801, cat. no. 281.

Randall, Lilian M. C. Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Walters Art Gallery. Vol. 3, Belgium, 1250-1530. Baltimore and London: Johns Hopkins University Press in association with the Walters Art Gallery, 1997; pp. 417-423, cat. no. 280.


Contributors

Principal cataloger: Randall, Lilian M.C.

Catalogers: Herbert, Lynley; Valle, Chiara

Editor: Herbert, Lynley

Copy editor: Dibble, Charles

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Emery, Doug; Herbold, Rebekah; Noel, William; Pizzinato, Riccardo; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.; Wiegand, Kimber


Publisher

The Walters Art Museum


License

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode. It is requested that copies of any published articles based on the information in this data set be sent to the curator of manuscripts, The Walters Art Museum, 600 North Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201.