Walters Ms. W.427, Book of Hours

W.427

Book of Hours

Book of Hours

This manuscript was created ca. 1500 in Bruges or Ghent, and was influenced by the Master of the Prayerbooks, the Master of the Dresden Prayerbook, and the Master of the David Scenes in the Grimani breviary. It was likely made for a female patron with Franciscan affinity, as suggested by the contents of the calendar. The book is heavily illuminated with nineteen miniatures, marginalia on pages without miniatures, and twenty-four calendar illuminations, the latter including zodiac signs paired with illustrations of the labors of the month. Miniatures show detailed interior spaces with Renaissance architectural elements and proportional figures.

Ca. 1500 CE

Bruges

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.

Parchment

Highly prepared and selected parchment; back flyleaf i is modern parchment

Foliation: ii+219+ii

Formula: Quire 1: 8, with first and second folios canceled (fols. 1-6); Quire 2: 8 (fols. 7-14); Quire 3: 10, with first and fourth folios added (fols. 15-24); Quire 4: 9, with first folio added (fols. 25-33); Quire 5: 8 (fols. 34-41); Quire 6: 9, with seventh folio added (fols. 42-50); Quire 7-8: 8 (fols. 51-66); Quire 9: 9, with third folio added (fols. 67-75); Quire 10: 9, with eighth folio added (fols. 76-84); Quire 11: 9, with fifth folio added (fols. 85-93); Quire 12: 10, with second and seventh folio added (fols. 94-103); Quire 13: 9, with third folio added (fols. 104-112); Quire 14: 9, with third folio added (fols. 113-121); Quire 15: 14, with first and twelfth folios added (fols. 122-135); Quires 16-17: 8 (fols. 136-151); Quire 18: 9, with seventh folio added (fols. 152-160); Quires 19-25: 8 (fols. 161-216); Quire 26: 3, with third folio added (fols. 217-219)

Comments:

6.5 cm wide by 9.4 cm high

3.3 cm wide by 4.8 cm high

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 16
3. Layout does not apply to calendar: written space 5.2 x 3.4 cm; 4 columns of 17 lines; text including calendar ruled in pale rose ink

fols. 1r - 219v:

1. Title: Book of Hours
2. Hand note: Written in gotica rotunda
3. Decoration note: Twenty-four small miniature calendar illustrations (2.1 x 2.1 cm); nineteen full-page miniatures (9 lines); decorated illuminated initials at text openings (5 lines) and at "K L" in calendar (3 lines); borders at major text openings; drolleries throughout on pages without borders; rubrics in red; text in brown ink

fols. 2v - 14r:

1. Title: Calendar
2. Rubric: Januarius habet dies xxxi Luna xxx.
3. Contents: Contents suggest Bruges; saints of note include Pontianus (Jan. 14, Utrecht), Felix (Mar. 22), Maximus (Apr. 14), Servatius (May 14), Dignus (May 15), Bernardinus (May 20, Franciscan), Erasmus (Jun. 3), Godeleva (Jul. 6), Adrian (Sept. 7), Bavo (Oct. 1, Ghent and Bruges), Maclovius (Nov. 15), Lucy and Jodocus (Dec. 13)
4. Hand note: Probably different hand than rest of book
5. Decoration note: Small miniatures on fols. 2v, 3r, 3v, 4r, 4v, 5r, 5v, 6r, 6v, 7r, 7v, 8r, 8v, 9r, 9v, 10r, 10v, 11r, 11v, 12r, 12v, 13r, 13v, and 14r

fols. 15v - 17v:

1. Title: Suffrage to the Holy Face
2. Rubric: Ad salutandum faciem Iesu Christi
3. Incipit: Salve sancta facies
4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 15v

fols. 18v - 25v:

1. Title: Hours of the Cross
2. Rubric: Incipiunt hore sancte crucis. Ad matutinas.
3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 18v

fols. 26v - 32v:

1. Title: Hours of the Holy Spirit
2. Rubric: Incipiunt hore de sancto spiritu
3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 26v surrounded by border with inscribed scrolls "Veni sancte spiritus," "Reple tuorum corda," and "spiritu"; border on 27r with inscribed scrolls "Reple tuorum corda" and "fndeli"

fols. 33r - 38v:

1. Title: Mass of the Virgin
2. Rubric: Incipiunt missa beate Marie virginis
3. Incipit: Introibo ad altare dei

fols. 39r - 47r:

1. Title: Gospel Sequences
2. Rubric: Initium sancti evvangelii secundum johannem. Gloria tivi domine
3. Decoration note: Small miniatures on fols. 39r, 41r, 43r, and 46r

fols. 48v - 121v:

1. Title: Hours of the Virgin
2. Rubric: Incipiunt hore beate marie virginis secundum usum romanum. Ad matutinas.
3. Incipit: Domine labia mea
4. Decoration note: Full-page miniatures on fols. 48v, 69v, 83v, 89v, 95v, 100v, 106v, and 115v

fols. 122v - 132r:

1. Title: Advent Office of the Virgin
2. Rubric: Incipit officium beate marie. Quod dicitur per totum adventum. Ad vesperas.
3. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 122v

fols. 133v - 146v:

1. Title: Seven Penitential Psalms
2. Rubric: Incipiunt septem psalmus antiphona
3. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 133v

fols. 146v - 157v:

1. Title: Litany, petitions, and collects
2. Rubric: Incipit letania sanctorum
3. Contents: Fols. 146v-154v: Litany, including sixteen apostles, evangelists, and innocents from Peter to Mark; thirteen martyrs, including Gervasius and Prothasius paired, Erasmus, and Blasius; twelve monks, hermits, priests, and levites, including Nicholas, Louis, Dominic, Francis, Anthony, Bernardinus, Louis; eleven virgins, widows, and "continentes," including Anne, Mary Magdalene, Catherine, Agnes, Lucy, Cecilia, Agatha, Barbara, Margaret, Claire and Elizabeth; fols. 149v-154v: petitions, eleven versicles and responses; fols. 154v-157v: seven collects, each headed "Oratio"

fols. 158v - 205v:

1. Title: Office of the Dead
2. Rubric: Incipiunt vigilie mort. a. ps.
3. Incipit: Placebo
4. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 158v surrounded by border with inscribed scrolls "Memento morieris," "Cogita mortem," and "Respice finem"; border on fol. 159r with inscribed scrolls "Mors" and "Respice finem"

fols. 206r - 218r:

1. Title: Devotional sequence
2. Rubric: Oratio beate marie virginis
3. Incipit: Obsecro te
4. Contents: Fols. 206r-213v: Two prayers to the Virgin: Obsecro te (fols. 206r-210v) and O intemerata (fols. 210v-213v); fols. 214r-218r: Athanasian creed
5. Decoration note: Full-page miniature on fol. 206r

fol. 2v:

1. 
2. Title: Man before fire
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: January

fol. 3r:

1. 
2. Title: Aquarius
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: January

fol. 3v:

1. 
2. Title: Man pruning espalier tree on house
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: February

fol. 4r:

1. 
2. Title: Pisces
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: February

fol. 4v:

1. 
2. Title: Man plowing
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: March

fol. 5r:

1. 
2. Title: Aries
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: March

fol. 5v:

1. 
2. Title: Shepherd tending to five sheep
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: April

fol. 6r:

1. 
2. Title: Taurus
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: April

fol. 6v:

1. 
2. Title: Lute player and woman in boat
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: May

fol. 7r:

1. 
2. Title: Gemini
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: May

fol. 7v:

1. 
2. Title: Man shearing sheep
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: June

fol. 8r:

1. 
2. Title: Cancer
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: June

fol. 8v:

1. 
2. Title: Man scything
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: July

fol. 9r:

1. 
2. Title: Leo
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: July

fol. 9v:

1. 
2. Title: Man reaping with sickle
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: August

fol. 10r:

1. 
2. Title: Virgo
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: August

fol. 10v:

1. 
2. Title: Man sowing seeds
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: September

fol. 11r:

1. 
2. Title: Libra
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: September

fol. 11v:

1. 
2. Title: Man stomping grapes with companion bringing more
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: October

fol. 12r:

1. 
2. Title: Scorpio
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: October

fol. 12v:

1. 
2. Title: Man with mallet about to stun ox held by companion
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: November

fol. 13r:

1. 
2. Title: Sagittarius
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: November

fol. 13v:

1. 
2. Title: Man slitting pig's throat with woman catching blood in pan
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: December

fol. 14r:

1. 
2. Title: Capricorn
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Calendar: December

fol. 15v:

1. 
2. Title: Salvator mundi
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Suffrage to the Holy Face

fol. 18v:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion with thieves
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Cross

fol. 26v:

1. 
2. Title: Pentecost
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Holy Spirit

fol. 39r:

1. 
2. Title: St. John on Patmos and vision of Apocalyptic seven-headed beast
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Gospel sequences

fol. 41r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Luke in study, writing at desk
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Gospel sequences

fol. 43r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Matthew writing in study
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Gospel sequences

fol. 46r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Mark in study
3. Form: Small miniature
4. Text: Gospel sequences

fol. 48v:

1. 
2. Title: Annunciation
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Matins

fol. 69v:

1. 
2. Title: Visitation
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Lauds

fol. 83v:

1. 
2. Title: Nativity-Adoration
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Prime

fol. 89v:

1. 
2. Title: Annunciation to the shepherds
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Terce

fol. 95v:

1. 
2. Title: Adoration of the Magi
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Sext

fol. 100v:

1. 
2. Title: Presentation in the Temple
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: None

fol. 106v:

1. 
2. Title: Massacre of the Innocents
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Vespers

fol. 115v:

1. 
2. Title: Flight into Egypt
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Hours of the Virgin: Compline

fol. 122v:

1. 
2. Title: Coronation of the Virgin by Christ
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Advent of the Virgin

fol. 133v:

1. 
2. Title: Bathsheba observed by David
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Seven Penitential Psalms

fol. 158v:

1. 
2. Title: Raising of Lazarus
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Office of the Dead

fol. 206r:

1. 
2. Title: Pietà
3. Form: Miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: Obsecro te

The binding is not original.

Nineteenth- or twentieth-century re-binding from France by Léon Gruel; worn crimson velvet; rounded spine; white edgebead on endbands; gilt edges pre-Gruel

Created ca. 1500 CE in either Bruges or Ghent most likely for a female patron

Léon Gruel, Paris bookbinder and bookseller, late nineteenth or early twentieth century

Henry Walters, Baltimore, purchased from Gruel between 1895 and 1931

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest

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. 807, cat. no. 316.

D. Diringer, The Illuminated Book: Its History and Production, revised edition, New York, 1967, p. 448

Bowles, E. A., "A Checklist of Musical Instruments in Fifteenth-Century Illuminated Manuscripts at the Walters Art Gallery", Quarterly Journal of the Music Library Association, 1976, p. 724-725.

W. Cahn and J. Marrow, "Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts at Yale: A Selection," Yale University Library Gazette, 1978, ref. under no. 78: Beinecke 287

H. Wolf, Kostbarkeiten flamischer Buchmalerei, Berlin, 1985, p. 36, fig. 43

B. A. Shailor, Catalogue of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University, Binghampton, N.Y., 1987, p. 61

Owens, M.B., "Musical Subjects in the Illumination of Books of Hours from Fifteenth-Century France and Flanders", Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago, 1987, p. 471.

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, 1989; pp. 480-486, cat. no. 290; figs. 541-543, pl. XLIIIb

“Table of Contents.” Calligraphy Review 9/1 (1991): 1-3; p. 2 (illus. of Flight into Egypt).

As-Vijvers, Margaret W. “More than Marginal Meaning? The interpretation of Ghent-Bruges Border Decoration.” Oud-Holland‬: tijdschrift voor Nederlandse kunstgeschiedenis‬ 116 (2003): 3-33; pp. 12 (fig. 8), 29, 30, 32. ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Marrow, James H. “Book of Hours in Latin: Flanders (Bruges), Use of Rome, ca. 1500. NYPL MA 118.” In The Splendor of the Word: Medieval and Renaissance Illuminated Manuscripts at the New York Public Library. Edited by Jonathan J.G. Alexander, James H. Marrow, and Lucy Freeman Sandler, 292-295. NY: New York Public Library (2005); p. 295 (ref. under cat. no. 65).

Principal cataloger: Randall, Lilian M.C.

Cataloger: Ransom, Allison

Editor: Herbert, Lynley

Copy editor: Dibble, Charles

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Emery, Doug; Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.; Wiegand, Kimber

The Walters Art Museum

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.