Walters Ms. W.163, Prayer book of Bishop Leonhard von Laymingen of Passau

W.163

Prayer book of Bishop Leonhard von Laymingen of Passau

Prayer book of Leonhard von Laymingen of Passau

This late medieval German prayer book is an example of a highly personal devotional item. It was originally made ca. 1440 for Leonhard von Laymingen, bishop of Passau (fl. 1423-1451). The text primarily features a series of prayers to various saints as well as prayers for travelings. Many illuminations and some text pages have been excised, but the book is nonetheless extensively decorated. The prayer book's illuminations consist of thirty miniatures and four historiated initials that complement the text, usually with illustrations of saints. Bishop von Laymingen appears in his prayer book several times kneeling before the saint to which that particular prayer is dedicated. Additionally, the Laymingen coat of arms appears twenty times throughout the book.

Mid 15th century CE

Passau, Germany

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.

Parchment

Medium weight, smooth parchment, slightly trimmed

Foliation: v+181+vi

All flyleaves are paper; modern pencil foliation in upper right corners of rectos

Formula: v, 1(6,-4,5), 2(8,-1), 3(10,-2,9), 4(8,-1), 5(8), 6(8,-4), 7-11(8), 12(8,-6,7,8), 13(8), 14(4,-4), 15(8,-8), 16-17(8), 18(8,-7), 19(8,-7,8), 20(8,-4), 21(8,-2,7), 22(8), 23(8,-8), 24(8), 25(8,-4), 26(6,-6), vi

Catchwords: None

Signatures: None

Comments: Quires begin on fols. 1(1), 5(2), 12(3), 20(4), 27(5), 35(6), 42(7), 50(8), 58(9), 66(10), 74(11), 82(12), 87(13), 95(14), 98(15), 105(16), 113(17), 121(18), 128(19), 134(20), 141(21), 147(22), 155(23), 162(24), 170(25), 177(26)

9.2 cm wide by 12.8 cm high

5.2 cm wide by 7.5 cm high

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 12
3. Ruled in brown ink, some prickings visible on outer page edges

fols. 1v - 181r:

1. Title: Prayer book of Leonhard von Laymingen of Passau
2. Text note: The majority of the text is prayers to various saints, also included is St. Bernard's Meditation on the Salve Regina; many leaves excised and there appear to be several whole prayers missing; two added later inscriptions: a seventeenth century cursive (fol. 1r) and a late fifteenth century cursive (fol. 181v).
3. Hand note: German Gothic bookhand (textura formata)
4. Decoration note: Twenty-five full-page miniatures, five half-page miniatures, four historiated initials, with decorated initials and foliate borders throughout

fols. 1v - 4v:

1. Title: Prayers for travel
2. Rubric: Orationes pro viagio
3. Incipit: In viam paris et prosperitas
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 1v)

fols. 5r - 13r:

1. Title: Morning prayer
2. Rubric: Primo mane hora diei. Oratio.
3. Incipit: Domine deus pater pater piissime
4. Text note: For the initial "S" of the incipit, read "D."
5. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 5r)

fols. 13v - 16v:

1. Title: Midday prayer
2. Rubric: Meridiane
3. Incipit: Beatitudinum omnium dispensator atque largitor
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 13v)

fols. 17r - 19v:

1. Title: Prayer
2. Incipit: Cunctorum omnium celestium terrestrium

fols. 20r - 37v:

1. Title: Prayer in tribulation
2. Rubric: Ista oratio dicenda est pro summa necessitate quicumque in tribulatione et necessitate positus eam tribus vicibus flexis genibus devote dixerit absque dubio exaudieter
3. Incipit: O dulcissime domine jesu christe verus dei filius

fols. 38r - 71v:

1. Title: Meditation of St. Bernard on the Salve Regina
2. Rubric: Meditatio beati Bernardi abbatis super salve regina
3. Incipit: Ad salutandam virginem primo debes
4. Decoration note: Two historiated initials (fols. 38r and 71r)

fols. 71v - 75r:

1. Title: Sequence of the Ave Maria
2. Rubric: Hec dicta sequentia super ave maria papa Iohannes XXII pro laude virginis predicte compilavit eaque sic dicentibus quingentos gentis dies vere et confirmate papalis indulgentie condonavit
3. Incipit: Ave nostra domina de humilitate
4. Decoration note: One half-page miniature (fol. 72r)

fols. 75v - 81r:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin Mary
2. Rubric: Oratio de beata Virgine
3. Incipit: O pulcherrima mulierum famosa et excellentissima virgo
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 75v)

fols. 81r - 83v:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin
2. Rubric: Alia oratio
3. Incipit: Sanctorum omnium sanctissima post deum
4. Decoration note: One historiated initial (fol. 81v)

fols. 84r - 86r:

1. Title: A short text on the Virgin by Anselm of Canterbury
2. Incipit: Maria dei genetrix didicit hebraycas literas adhuc patre eius joachym vivente

fols. 87r - 94r:

1. Title: Prayer of St. Thomas
2. Incipit: O domina mea sancta maria perpetua virgo virginum mater summe benignitatis
3. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 87r)

fols. 94r - 97r:

1. Title: Petition
2. Rubric: Pete quod vis
3. Incipit: Pro qua te specialiter imploro
4. Decoration note: One half-page miniature (fol. 94v)

fols. 98r - 102r:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin
2. Rubric: De beata virgine oratio
3. Incipit: O gloriosa regina angelorum misericirdissma adiutrix
4. Hand note: One full-page miniature (fol. 98r)

fols. 102v - 104v:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin
2. Rubric: Alia oratio
3. Incipit: Theos memoria incomprehensibilis
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 102v)

fols. 105r - 108r:

1. Title: Prayer to the Holy Spirit
2. Rubric: Oratio de sancto spiritu
3. Incipit: Veni sancte spiritus illuminator
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 105r)

fols. 109r - 110v:

1. Title: Prayer to the Holy Spirit
2. Rubric: Alia oratio de sancto spiritu
3. Incipit: Ave sacer spiritus lumen cordis mei
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 109r)

fols. 111r - 113v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. John the Evangelist
2. Rubric: De sancto Iohanne apostolo
3. Incipit: Contemplator trinitatis speculum virginitatis
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 111r)

fols. 113v - 115v:

1. Title: Prayer to SS. Peter and Paul
2. Rubric: Hec orationes infrascripte continentur fonte(?) ad sancta sanctorum obreverentiam reliquarium apostolorum petri et pau specialiter in locis ubi eorum reliquie continentur
3. Incipit: Domine iehsu christi bonorum omnium
4. Decoration note: One half-page miniature (fol. 114r)

fols. 115v - 118v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Peter
2. Rubric: hec sequens oratio fonte(?) apud sepulchrum seu altare beati petri apostoli contintentur. De sancto Petro apostolo
3. Incipit: Sancte petre apostole qui tenes claves
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 116r)

fols. 119r - 120v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Paul
2. Rubric: De sancto Paulo
3. Incipit: O flos et decus
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 119r)

fols. 121r - 122r:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Matthew
2. Rubric: De sancto Matheo apostolo oratio
3. Incipit: Inclite adletha christi beate mathee apostole
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 121r)

fols. 123r - 124v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. John the Baptist
2. Rubric: De sancto Iohanne Baptista
3. Incipit: Sancte Iohannes Baptista tu ille
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 123r)

fols. 125r - 126v:

1. Title: Prayer to an angel
2. Rubric: De proprio angelo
3. Incipit: Obsecro te angeli
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 125r)

fols. 127r - 128v:

1. Title: Prayer to an angel
2. Incipit: [...] nostri iesu christi qui venisti in audiutorium populo dei
3. Text note: Incomplete at beginning

fols. 129r - 130v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Mathias
2. Rubric: De sancto Mathia
3. Incipit: Sancte Mathia qui iuste duodeno resides solio
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 129r)

fols. 131r - 132r:

1. Title: Prayer to St. James
2. Rubric: De sancto Iacobo
3. Incipit: O pastor egregie sancte Iacobe
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 131r)

fols. 132v - 135v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Philip
2. Rubric: De sancto Phylippo apostolo
3. Incipit: Sancte Philyppe apostole domini
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 132v)

fols. 136r - 136v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Thomas
2. Rubric: De sancto Thoma apostolo
3. Incipit: Sancte Thoma apostole qui
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 136r)

fols. 137r - 137v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Andrew
2. Incipit: [...] domus veri solomonis columpna sancte andrea
3. Text note: Incomplete at beginning

fols. 138r - 141v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Catherine
2. Rubric: De sancta Katherina
3. Incipit: Ave beata Katherina ave martyr
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 138r)

fols. 142r - 142v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Barbara
2. Incipit: [...] vigiliam tuam ieiunaverit quod speciale donum reciperet et obitum
3. Text note: Incomplete at beginning

fols. 143r - 145v:

1. Title: Prayer to Mary Magdalene
2. Rubric: De sancta Maria Magdalena
3. Incipit: Sancta Maria Magdalena que cum
4. Decoration note: One half-page miniature (fol. 143r)

fols. 146r - 146v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Margaret
2. Incipit: [...]lium contra inimicos meos
3. Text note: Incomplete at beginning

fols. 147r - 149r:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Erasmus
2. Rubric: De sancto Erasmo
3. Incipit: Sancte Erasme martyr dei preciose
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 147r)

fols. 149v - 152v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Nicholas
2. Rubric: De sancto Nycolao
3. Incipit: Sancte Nycolae deo carus episcope
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 149v)

fols. 153r - 155v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Wenceslas
2. Rubric: De sancto Wenczeslao
3. Incipit: Obsecro te beatissime Wenczeslae
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 153r)

fols. 156r - 161r:

1. Title: Suffrages to Apostles, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors and Bishops, Virgins, All Saints
2. Rubric: Suffragia de apostolis
3. Incipit: Non vos me elegistis

fols. 162r - 169v:

1. Title: Prayer to 11,000 Virgins
2. Rubric: Undecim milium virginum
3. Incipit: O vernantes christi rose supra modum speciose
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 162r)

fols. 170r - 172v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Dorothy
2. Rubric: De sancta Dorothea
3. Incipit: Salve sancta Dorothea
4. Decoration note: One half-page miniature (fol. 170r)

fols. 173r - 174v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Leonard
2. Incipit: [...] pura in quacumque manent cura
3. Text note: Incomplete at beginning

fols. 175r - 176v:

1. Title: Prayer to St. Stephen
2. Rubric: De sancto Stephano
3. Incipit: Sancte dei preciose prothomartyr
4. Decoration note: One full-page miniature (fol. 175r)

fols. 177r - 181r:

1. Title: Prayer for the Dead
2. Rubric: Oratio pro defunctis
3. Incipit: Absolve quesummus domine animas
4. Decoration note: One historiated initial (fol. 177r)

fol. 1v:

1. 
2. Title: Journey of pilgrims over the Alps
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 5r:

1. 
2. Title: Trinity
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 13v:

1. 
2. Title: Creation of the earth and sea, with Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 38r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "A" with St. Bernard
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 4 lines

fol. 71r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "S" with the Annunciation
3. Form: Historiated initial "S," 4 lines

fol. 72r:

1. 
2. Title: Annunciation
3. Form: Half-page miniature

fol. 75v:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin with kneeling bishop
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 81v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "S" with Virgin
3. Form: Historiated initial "S," 3 lines

fol. 87r:

1. 
2. Title: Pietà with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 94v:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin and Child with kneeling bishop
3. Form: Half-page miniature

fol. 98r:

1. 
2. Title: Assumption of the Virgin with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 102v:

1. 
2. Title: Christ in Majesty with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 105r:

1. 
2. Title: Holy Ghost with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 109r:

1. 
2. Title: Holy Ghost with bishop kneeling at a prayer desk and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 111r:

1. 
2. Title: St. John the Evangelist with chalice; kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 114r:

1. 
2. Title: SS. Peter and Paul with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Half-page miniature

fol. 116r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Peter
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 119r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Paul
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 121r:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Matthew
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 123r:

1. 
2. Title: St. John the Baptist with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 125r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Michael
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 129r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Mathias with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 131r:

1. 
2. Title: St. James with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 132v:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Philip with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 136r:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Thomas with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 138r:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Catherine of Alexandria with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 143r:

1. 
2. Title: Mary Magdalene with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Half-page miniature

fol. 147r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Erasmus
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 149v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Nicholas
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 153r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Wenceslas
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 162r:

1. 
2. Title: Legend of St. Ursula
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 170r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Dorothy
3. Form: Half-page miniature

fol. 175r:

1. 
2. Title: Martyrdom of St. Stephen with kneeling bishop and Laymingen heraldry
3. Form: Full-page miniature

fol. 177r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "A" with the Resurrection of the Dead
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 3 lines

The binding is not original.

Austrian binding ca. 1600, brown leather over beech boards; blind-stamped and tooled Crucifixion scene, floral and fleur-de-lys decoration; impressions and brass rivets of former clasps remain

Made for Leonhard von Laymingen, bishop of Passau (fl. 1423-1451)

Don Marcello Massarenti (1817-1905) collection, Rome, no. 475 (stickers on outer and inner upper board and paper pastedown inside lower board)

Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1902, purchased from Massarenti collection

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest

De Ricci, Seymour. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. 2 vols. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1935. p. 815, cat. no. 359.

Diringer, David. The Illuminated Book: Its History and Production. London: Faber & Faber, 1958, p. 194, pl. III-33 (fol. 1v).

Howard, Donald R. Writers and Pilgrims: Medieval Pilgrimage Narratives and their Posterity. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1980.

Burin, Elizabeth. "Travel in Medieval Manuscripts." Journal of The Walters Art Gallery 51 (1993): cover, pp. 2-3.

Cataloger: Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934

Editors: Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William

Copy editor: Joyal, Stephanie

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Bockrath, Diane; Emery, Doug; Hamburger, Jeffrey; 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.