Walters Ms. W.102, Book of hours

W.102

Book of hours

Book of hours

This finely illuminated and iconographically rich book of hours was made in England at the end of the thirteenth century. The manuscript is incomplete and misbound. Its main artist can also be found at work in a Bible (Oxford, Bodleian Library Ms. Auct. D.3.2) and a psalter (Cambridge, Trinity College Cambridge Ms. O.4.16). The manuscript contains a number of unusual texts, including the Hours of Jesus Crucified and the Office of St. Catherine. The patron of the manuscript is not clear; a woman is depicted as praying in many of the initials, but rubrics in the Office of the Dead mention "freres" (brothers). The imagery is inventive, and the Hours of Christ Crucified are graced with images depicting the funeral of Reynard the Fox in its margins. In the absence of a calendar, it is not possible to locate the origin of the manuscript precisely.

Ca. 1300 CE

England

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin. The secondary language of this manuscript is French, Old (842-ca.1400).

Parchment

Medium-weight parchment

Foliation: ii+104+i

Nineteenth-century pen foliation in upper right corners of rectos (followed here); second flyleaf foliated as fol. 1, with foliation consequently ending at fol. 105; twentieth-century foliation in pencil in lower left corners of rectos

Formula: Undetermined

Catchwords: Occasionally found on versos of the last folios of quires in the bottom right margins

Comments: Binding too tight to reconstruct the original arrangement of quires

18.7 cm wide by 26.7 cm high

12.2 cm wide by 17.0 cm high

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 19

fols. 2r - 105v:

1. Title: Book of hours
2. Contents: The original sequence of the parts of this manuscript cannot be reconstructed with certainty. The Abbreviated Hours were followed by the Hours of the Holy Spirit, the Seven Penitential Psalms, the litany and collects, the Fifteen Gradual Psalms, the Office of the Dead, and the Hours of Jesus Crucified. Whether the Prayers to the Crucified Christ, which were followed by the lections in the life of St. Catharine, came before or after this sequence is an unanswered question.
3. Hand note: Written in Gothic bookhand (textura semi-quadrata)
4. Decoration note: One half-page line drawing; thirty-two historiated initials; minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 73v - 84v; 2r - 3v:

1. Title: Hours of Jesus Crucified
2. Rubric: Si commence les hures de Iesu crucifie les queles si hume die chescun iur e pense de sa passiun ke il suffri a cheun hure il ne murra mie de male mort
3. Incipit: Gracias tibi ago domine Iesu Chisti cuius gratia (fol. 73v)
4. Contents: Text has been scrambled; correct order as follows: fols. 73v-84v, 2r-3v
5. Decoration note: Eight historiated initials; minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 4r - 12r:

1. Title: Prayers to the Crucified Christ
2. Rubric: Ci commence le preface avant remembre
3. Incipit: In nomine domini omne genuflectatur celestium
4. Decoration note: Nine historiated initials; numerous minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 12v - 15v; 94r - 105v:

1. Title: Lections in the life of St. Catharine, canonical hours in her honor, and miscellaneous prayers
2. Rubric: De Seint Katerine a vespres les psaumes feriale
3. Incipit: Ave virginum gemma Katerina flos
4. Decoration note: One half-page line drawing; one historiated initial; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 87r - 90v; 92r - 93v; 86r - 86v; 16r - 16v; 91r - 91v:

1. Title: Hours of the Virgin
2. Incipit: ... letentur celi et exultet terra
3. Contents: Incomplete; text has been scrambled; correct order as follows: fols. 87r-90v, 92r-93v, 86r-v, 16r-v, 91r-v
4. Text note: Use of Rome
5. Decoration note: Three historiated initials; numerous minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 17r - 21v:

1. Title: Abbreviated Hours
2. Incipit: Dixit autem Maria ad angelum
3. Contents: Incomplete
4. Text note: Augustinian Use
5. Decoration note: Minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 21v - 26v; 85r - 85v; 35r - 35v; 41r - 43r:

1. Title: Hours of the Holy Spirit
2. Rubric: Ci commencent les Hures del Seint Espirit
3. Incipit: Sanctus Spiritus assit nobis gratia
4. Contents: Incomplete; text has been scrambled; correct order as follows: fols. 21v-26v, 85r-v, 35r-v, 41r-43r
5. Decoration note: Seven historiated initials; numerous minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 43r - 48v; 40r - 40v; 27r - 27v:

1. Title: Seven Penitential Psalms
2. Rubric: Ci commencent les Set Psaumes
3. Incipit: Ne reminiscaris (fol. 43r)
4. Text note: Text has been scrambled; correct order as follows: fols. 43r-48v, 40r-v, 27r-v
5. Decoration note: One historiated initial; minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 28r - 30v; 36r - 38v:

1. Title: Litany and collects
2. Incipit: Kyrieleison
3. Text note: Franciscan adaptation of the Roman litany
4. Decoration note: Minor decorated initials; historiated line fillers; marginalia

fols. 39r - 39v; 31r - 34v; 49r - 51r:

1. Title: Fifteen Gradual Psalms
2. Rubric: Ci commencent les Quinze Psaumes Penitenciales
3. Incipit: Ad dominum cum tribulare clamavi (fol. 39r)
4. Contents: Text has been scrambled; correct order as follows: fols. 39r-v, 31r-34v, 49r-51r
5. Decoration note: Minor decorated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fols. 51r - 73r:

1. Title: Office of the Dead
2. Rubric: Ci commence le Office pur les Morz
3. Incipit: Legem [sic] cui omnia vivunt, Venite adoremus
4. Text note: Use of Rome
5. Decoration note: Three historiated initials; line fillers; marginalia

fol. 2r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with Tree of Jesse
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: compline

fol. 4r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "V" with Crucifixion
3. Form: Historiated initial "V," 5 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 5r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with Carrying of the Cross
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 5 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 6r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with Crucifixion
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 6v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with Trinity (throne of mercy)
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 7v:

1. 
2. Title: Three Marys at the sepulcher
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 8r:

1. 
2. Title: Harrowing of hell
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 9r:

1. 
2. Title: Joseph and Mary before Christ in the Temple
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Crucified Christ

fol. 10v:

1. 
2. Title: King David before God, pointing to his tongue
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayer (Psalm 38)

fol. 12r:

1. 
2. Title: Kneeling woman before Christ-Logos
3. Form: Historiated initial "C," 6 lines
4. Text: Prayer for the priest before mass

fol. 13v:

1. 
2. Title: Learned doctors of Alexandria before Emperor Maxentius
3. Form: Historiated initial "M," 6 lines
4. Text: Lections in the life of St. Catherine: first lesson

fol. 16r:

1. 
2. Title: Woman kneeling in prayer at an altar
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 4 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: sext

fol. 22r:

1. 
2. Title: Two tonsured men singing from a book before an altar
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit: matins

fol. 28r:

1. 
2. Title: Elephant and castle
3. Form: Line filler
4. Text: Litany
5. Comment:

   See similar elephant with castle in margins of W.250 on fol. 93r.

fol. 28v:

1. 
2. Title: Adam
3. Form: Line filler
4. Text: Litany

fol. 29r:

1. 
2. Title: Head of Christ; St. Stephen playing chess
3. Form: Line filler
4. Text: Litany

fol. 29v:

1. 
2. Title: Romulus and Remus; ape riding a bear
3. Form: Line fillers
4. Text: Litany

fol. 30v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Margaret swallowed by a dragon
3. Form: Line filler
4. Text: Litany

fol. 33v:

1. 
2. Title: Scribal error corrected
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Fifteen Gradual Psalms

fol. 35v:

1. 
2. Title: Woman praying
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 3 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit: vespers

fol. 39r:

1. 
2. Title: Decapitation of a man
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 7 lines
4. Text: Fifteen Gradual Psalms

fol. 39v:

1. 
2. Title: Scribal error corrected
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Fifteen Gradual Psalms

fol. 42r:

1. 
2. Title: Woman praying
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 3 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit: compline

fol. 43r:

1. 
2. Title: Christ with a cleric holding a book
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines
4. Text: Seven Penitential Psalms

fol. 51r:

1. 
2. Title: Two monks chanting
3. Form: Historiated initial "V," 3 lines
4. Text: Office of the Dead: matins

fol. 55r:

1. 
2. Title: Funeral service
3. Form: Historiated initial "P," 5 lines
4. Text: Office of the Dead: matins and lauds

fol. 70r:

1. 
2. Title: Two men kneeling in prayer
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 4 lines
4. Text: Office of the Dead: vespers

fol. 73r:

1. 
2. Title: Sheep ringing bells, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Office of the Dead

fol. 73v:

1. 
2. Title: Betrayal; elephant as a pilgrim, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: matins

fol. 74r:

1. 
2. Title: Flagellation; bull blowing a horn, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: lauds

fol. 74v:

1. 
2. Title: Horse playing a flute and drum, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 75r:

1. 
2. Title: Ass playing a recorder and bell, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 75v:

1. 
2. Title: Dog playing bagpipes, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 76r:

1. 
2. Title: Christ Carrying the Cross; ape family, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: prime

fol. 76v:

1. 
2. Title: Brechimer the Stag carrying the back of Renard the Fox's bier, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 77r:

1. 
2. Title: Tibert the Cat carrying the front of Renard the Fox's bier, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 77v:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion; Chanticleer the Cock swinging a censer, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: terce

fol. 78r:

1. 
2. Title: Ysengrin the Wolf as a bishop, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 78v:

1. 
2. Title: Cat beating a cymbal, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 79r:

1. 
2. Title: Goat carrying a crucifix, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 79v:

1. 
2. Title: Deposition; bear blowing a horn, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 7 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: sext

fol. 80r:

1. 
2. Title: Ram, with situla, sprinkling holy water with an aspergillum, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 80v:

1. 
2. Title: Boar digging a grave, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 81r:

1. 
2. Title: Rabbit tolling church bells, from a marginal cycle of images of the funeral of Renard the Fox
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 81v:

1. 
2. Title: Entombment; marginal figure in combat
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines; marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified: none

fol. 82r:

1. 
2. Title: Naked marginal figure in combat
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 82v:

1. 
2. Title: Centaur firing an arrow
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 83r:

1. 
2. Title: Wrestlers
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 83v:

1. 
2. Title: Grotesque
3. Form: Marginalia
4. Text: Hours of Jesus Crucified

fol. 85v:

1. 
2. Title: Woman praying
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 3 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit: none

fol. 88v:

1. 
2. Title: Woman praying
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 4 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: prime

fol. 92v:

1. 
2. Title: Woman praying
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 4 lines
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: terce

fol. 105v:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Lawrence
3. Form: Half-page line drawing
4. Text: Miscellaneous prayers

The binding is not original.

Early twentieth-century worn red velvet over pasteboard

Created in England, ca. 1300, for an unknown patron

Henry Walters, Baltimore, purchased ca. 1930

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest

De Ricci, Seymour. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. Vol. 1. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1935, no. 169, p. 784.

Walters Art Gallery. Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages and Renaissance: An Exhibition Held at the Baltimore Museum of Art. Baltimore: Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery, 1949, p. 56, no. 153.

Brieger, Peter H. English Art 1216-1307. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1957, p. 222.

Diringer, David. The Illuminated Book. London: Philosophical Library, 1957, p. 273.

McCulloch, Florence. "The Funeral of Renart the Fox in a Walters Book of Hours." Journal of the Walters Art Gallery 25-26 (1962-1963): 8-27.

Randall, L. M. C. "Humor and Fantasy in the Margins of an English Book of Hours." Apollo 58 (1966): 482-488.

Sandler, Lucy Freeman, and J. J. G. Alexander. A Survey of Manuscripts Illuminated in the British Isles. Gothic Manuscripts 1285-1385. Vol. 5. London: Harvey Miller, 1986, pp. 24-26, no. 15.

Alexander, J. J. G., and Paul Binski, eds. Age of Chivalry: Art in Plantagenet England 1200-1400. London: Royal Academy of Arts, 1987, pp. 356-357, no. 359.

Wieck, Roger S. Time Sanctified: The Book of Hours in Medieval Art and Life. New York: George Braziller, 1988, pp. 102, 221-222.

Randall, Lilian M. C. "An Elephant in the Litany: Further Thoughts on an English Book of Hours in the Walters Art Gallery (W. 102)," in Willene B. Clark and Meradith T. McMunn, eds., Beasts and Birds of the Middle Ages. The Bestiary and Its Legacy (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1989), 106-133.

Camille, Michael. Image on the Edge: The Margins of Medieval Art. London: Reaktion; Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1992, pp. 23-30.

Varty, Kenneth. Reynard, Renart, Reinart: And Other Foxes in Medieval England. Amsterdam, Amsterdam University Press; London: Eurospan, 1999, p. 141.

Mellinkoff, Ruth. Outcasts: Signs of Otherness in Northern European Art of the Late Middle Ages. Vol. 2. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press, 1993, no. IX.3.

Gies, Joseph and Frances. Scenes of Medieval Life. London: Folio Society. 2002, p. 158, v. 2

Bildhauer, Bettina and Robert Mills, eds. The Monstrous Middle Ages. Cardiff: University of Wales Press. 2003, pp. 47-48, fig. 7 (fol. 56v)

Les Musées de Strasbourg. Homme-animal: Histoires d'un face à face. Strasbourg: Éditions des Musées de Strasbourg. 2004, p. 99, fig. III 11 (fol. 56v)

Bagnoli, Martina. The Medieval World. Baltimore: Walters Art Museum, 2011, p. 149, fig. 131

Dillon, Emma. The Sense of Sound: Musical Meaning in France, 1260-1330. New York: Oxford University Press, 2012, pp. 243-286, figs. 7.7-18.

Morgan, Nigel, "English Books of Hours, c. 1240–c. 1480." In Books of Hours Reconsidered, edited by Sandra Hindman and James H. Marrow, 66-95. London and Turnhout: Harvey Miller, 2013; 67, 80, 94

Principal catalogers: Noel, William; Smith, Kathryn

Cataloger: Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934

Editors: Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William

Copy editor: Bockrath, Diane

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Bockrath, Diane; Dutschke, Consuelo; Emery, Doug; Noel, William; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.

The Walters Art Museum

Licensed for use under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Access Rights, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-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.