Walters Ms. W.432, Prayer book

W.432

Prayer book

Prayer book

This early sixteenth-century illuminated prayer book contains Latin prayers and passages from the Gospels. Although small in scale, it is notable for its abundance of illuminations, with nearly sixty extant small miniatures. Full-color portraits embellish the prayers to the Virgin and Suffrages, while the images within the Gospel narrative are rendered primarily in grisaille, a nearly entirely gray monochrome technique. The last folios include a trompe-l'oeil foliate margin and a Crucifixion that seems to be a later addition. Throughout the book gold initials on red or blue grounds mark the beginning of the prayers.

First quarter of the 16th century CE

Leiden, Netherlands

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.

Parchment

Thin to medium-weight, highly finished cream-colored parchment

Foliation: i+69+i

Foliation in pencil, top right corners, rectos

Formula: 1-11(6), 12(4,-4)

Catchwords: None

Signatures: Double set of modern pencilled quire marks, inscribed in corner at lower spine-edge on last verso, repeated in facing corner at lower left on first recto, beginning "a" and "b" on fols. 1 and 7, numerical system "1" to "10" thereafter

Comments: Quires begin on fols. 1(1), 7(2), 13(3), 19(4), 25(5), 31(6), 37(7), 43(8), 49(9), 55(10), 61(11), 67(12)

9.5 cm wide by 13.0 cm high

5.3 cm wide by 6.8 cm high

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 17-18
3. Red ink ruling visible on some folios

fols. 1r - 69v:

1. Title: Prayer book
2. Hand note: Calligraphic gothic bookhand
3. Decoration note: Forty-nine small miniatures (2 to 7 lines), last with foliate margin, most on red or blue ground; twelve small miniatures in grisaille and color; small gold initials on alternating blue and red ground throughout majority of text (1 line); one rubric in gold at the beginning of the manuscript, one in red accompanying the last prayer; text in black ink

fols. 1r - 6v:

1. Title: Devotions to the Virgin
2. Rubric: Oracio valde devota ad beatissimam Virginem Mariam.
3. Incipit: Obsecro te Domina Sancta Maria
4. Contents: Fols. 1-2r: prayer on the Five Joys of the Virgin; fols. 2r-5v: Rosarium of the Virgin composed of five groups, the first on the Joys of the Virgin, other four on Christ's life and Passion; fols. 5v-6r: Prayer to the Virgin attributed to St. Bernard; fol. 6r-v: Suffrage to guardian angel
5. Decoration note: Small miniature, fol. 1r

fols. 7r - 30r:

1. Title: Suffrages
2. Incipit: Michael Gabriel Raphael summi nuncii et omnes sancti angeli Dei
3. Contents: Suffrages: fol. 7r: for archangels and angels; fols. 7r-v: John the Baptist; fols. 7v-8r: Peter; fols. 8r-v: Paul; fols. 8v-9r: Andrew; fols. 9r-v: John the Evangelist; fols. 9v-10r: James the Greater; fols. 10r-v: Thomas the Apostle; fol. 10v: Philip and James the Less; fol. 11r: Bartholomew; fol. 11r-v: Matthew; fols. 11v-12r: Simon and Jude; fols. 12r-v: Matthias; fol. 12v: All the Apostles; fol. 13r: Stephen; fol. 13v: Lawrence; fols. 13v-14r: Sebastian; fols. 14r-v: Vincent Ferrer; fol. 15r: Lambert; fols. 15r-v: Cornelius and Cyprian; fols. 15v-16r: Erasmus; fols. 16r-v: Adrian; fols. 16v-17r: Dionysius; fols. 17r-v: Christopher; fols. 17v-18r: One martyr (intercessor), and All Martyrs; fols. 18r-v: Gregory I; fol. 18v: Jerome; fol. 19r: Augustine; fols. 19r-v: Ambrose; fols. 19v-20r: Martin; fol. 20r: Nicholas; fol. 20v: Francis; fols. 20v-21r: Anthony Abbot; fols. 21r-v: Benedict; fols. 21v-22r: Bernard; fol. 22r: Servatius; fols. 22r-23r: One Confessor (intercessor) and All Confessors; fols. 23r-v: Anne; fols. 23v-24r: Mary Magdalene; fols. 24r: Agnes; fol. 24v: Cecilia; fols. 24v-25r: Catherine of Alexandria; fols. 25r-v: Barbara; fols. 25v-r: Agatha; fol. 26r: Lucy; fol. 26v: Gertrude; fols. 26v-27r: Apollonia; fols. 27r-v: Margaret; fols. 27v-28r: Dorothy; fols. 28r-v: Eleven Thousand Virgins; fols. 28v-29r: Elisabeth of Hungary; fol. 29r-v: One Virgin (intercessor) and All Virgins; fols. 29v-30r: All Saints
4. Decoration note: Small miniatures accompany text for each suffrage, fols. 7r-v, 8r-v, 9r-v, 10r-v, 11r-v, 12r, 13r-v, 14r, 15r-v, 16r-v, 17r, 18r-v, 19r-v, 20r-v, 21r-v, 22r, 23r-v, 24r-v, 25r, 26r-v, 27r-v, and 28r-v

fols. 30v - 42v:

1. Title: Devotional prayers
2. Incipit: O Domine Ihesu Xriste adoro te in cruce pendentem
3. Contents: Fols. 30v-31r: seven verses of St. Gregory; fols. 31v-38r: communion prayers; fols. 38r-41r: vows regarding proper Christian behavior; fols. 41r-v: prayer to Christ; fols. 41v-42v: prayer to the Virgin that St. Bernard received from an angel
4. Decoration note: Small miniature, fol. 30v

fols. 43r - 55v:

1. Title: Prayers to the Virgin
2. Rubric: Alia oratio devotissima ad beatissimam Virginem Dei genitricem Maria.
3. Incipit: O intemerata et in aeternum benedicta
4. Contents: Prayers: fols. 43r-45v: O intemerata; fols. 46r-47r: Stabat Mater; fols. 47v-53r: Missus est Gabriel; fols. 53r-55v: Obsecro te
5. Decoration note: Small miniatures, fols. 43r, 46r, 47v, and 53r

fols. 55v - 59v:

1. Title: Gospel sequences
2. Rubric: Initium sancti evangelio secundum Johannem. Gloria tibi Domine.
3. Incipit: In principio erat verbum
4. Contents: Fols. 55v-56v: John 1:1-14; fols. 57r-v: Luke 1:26-38; fols. 58r-59r: Matthew 2:1-12; fols. 59r-v: Mark 16:14-20
5. Decoration note: Small miniatures at the beginning of each Gospel sequence, fols. 55v, 57r, 58r, and 59r

fols. 59v - 68r:

1. Title: Gospel sequence of the Passion
2. Rubric: Passio Domini nostri Ihesu Christi secundum Johannem.
3. Incipit: Egressus est Dominus Ihesus
4. Contents: Gospel sequence of the Passion containing excerpts from John's Gospel 18:1-19:42 in eight divisions: fols. 60r-v: John 18:1-11; fols. 61r-62r: John 18:12-27; fols. 62r-63r: John 18:28-38; fol. 63v: John 18:38-40; fols. 63v-65r: John 19:1-16; fols. 65r-v: John 19:16-22; fols. 65v-66r: John 19:23-24; fols. 66r-67v: John 19:25-42; fols. 67v-68r: collect
5. Decoration note: Small miniature at the beginning of each Gospel sequence, fols. 60r, 61r, 62r, 63v, 65r, 65v, and 66r

fols. 68r - 69v:

1. Title: Prayer on the Seven Last Words of Christ
2. Rubric: Oratio pulchra de septem verbis Domini qua dixit in cruce pendens.
3. Incipit: O Domine Ihesu Xriste fili Dei
4. Contents: Text and image an early addition on originally blank, ruled folios
5. Decoration note: Small miniature and foliate margin, fol. 68r

fol. 1r:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin and Child
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Devotions to the Virgin: Obsecro te

fol. 7r:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Michael; Below: St. John the Baptist
3. Form: Small miniatures, 7 lines (above), and 4 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Michael, St. John the Baptist

fol. 7v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Peter
3. Form: Small miniature, 5 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Peter

fol. 8r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Paul
3. Form: Small miniature, 5 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Paul

fol. 8v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Andrew
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Andrew

fol. 9r:

1. 
2. Title: St. John Evangelist
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. John Evangelist

fol. 9v:

1. 
2. Title: St. James the Greater
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. James the Greater

fol. 10r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Thomas the Apostle
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Thomas the Apostle

fol. 10v:

1. 
2. Title: SS. Philip and James the Less
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for SS. Philip and James the Less

fol. 11r:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Bartholomew; Below: St. Matthew
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines (above), and 2 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Bartholomew, St. Matthew

fol. 11v:

1. 
2. Title: SS. Simon and Jude
3. Form: Small miniature, 5 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for SS. Simon and Jude

fol. 12r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Matthias
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Matthias

fol. 12v:

1. 
2. Title: A group of apostles
3. Form: Small miniature, 3 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for All the Apostles

fol. 13r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Stephen
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Stephen

fol. 13v:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Lawrence; below: St. Sebastian
3. Form: Small miniatures, 7 lines (above), and 3 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Lawrence, St. Sebastian

fol. 14r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Vincent Ferrer
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Vincent Ferrer

fol. 15r:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Lambert; below: a pope
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines (above), and 2 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Lambert; SS. Cornelius and Cyprian

fol. 15v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Erasmus
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Erasmus

fol. 16r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Adrian
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Adrian

fol. 16v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Dionysius
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Dionysius

fol. 17r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Christopher
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Christopher

fol. 18r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Gregory
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Gregory

fol. 18v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Jerome
3. Form: Small miniature, 2 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Jerome

fol. 19r:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Augustine; Below: St. Ambrose
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines (above), and 5 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Augustine and St. Ambrose

fol. 19v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Martin gives alms to a beggar holding up a bowl
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Martin

fol. 20r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Nicholas blesses three resuscitated children
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Nicholas

fol. 20v:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Francis; Below: St. Anthony the Abbot
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines (above), and 4 lines (below)
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Francis; St. Anthony the Abbot

fol. 21r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Benedict
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Benedict

fol. 21v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Bernard
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Bernard

fol. 22r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Servatius
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Servatius

fol. 23r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Anne
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Anne

fol. 23v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Mary Magdalene
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Mary Magdalene

fol. 24r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Agnes
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Agnes

fol. 24v:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Cecilia; below: St. Catherine of Alexandria
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines each
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Cecilia; St. Catherine of Alexandria

fol. 25r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Barbara
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Barbara

fol. 26r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Lucy
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Lucy

fol. 26v:

1. 
2. Title: Above: St. Gertrude; below: St. Apollonia
3. Form: Small miniatures, 6 lines each
4. Text: Suffrages for St. Gertrude; St. Apollonia

fol. 27r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Margaret
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Margaret

fol. 27v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Dorothy
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Dorothy

fol. 28r:

1. 
2. Title: St. Ursula and the virgins
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrages for Eleven Thousand Virgins

fol. 28v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Elisabeth of Hungary gives alms to a beggar
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrage for St. Elisabeth

fol. 30v:

1. 
2. Title: Mass of St. Gregory
3. Form: Small miniature, 6 lines
4. Text: Seven Verses of St. Gregory

fol. 43r:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin offers fruit to Christ
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Virgin: O intemerata

fol. 46r:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Virgin: Stabat Mater

fol. 47v:

1. 
2. Title: Annunciation
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Virgin: Missus est Gabriel

fol. 53r:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin and Child
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Prayers to the Virgin: Obsecro te

fol. 55v:

1. 
2. Title: Portrait of Evangelist John
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: John 1:1-14

fol. 57r:

1. 
2. Title: Portrait of Evangelist Luke
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: Luke 1:26-38

fol. 58r:

1. 
2. Title: Portrait of Evangelist Matthew
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: Matthew 2:1-12

fol. 59r:

1. 
2. Title: Portrait of Evangelist Mark
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: Mark 16:14-20

fol. 60r:

1. 
2. Title: Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane
3. Form: Small miniature, 11 lines
4. Text: John 18:1-11

fol. 61r:

1. 
2. Title: Arrest of Christ
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: John 1:12-27

fol. 62r:

1. 
2. Title: Kiss of Judas
3. Form: Small miniature, 8 lines
4. Text: John 18:28-38

fol. 63v:

1. 
2. Title: Above: The Jews release Barabbas instead of Christ; below: Flagellation and crowning with thorns
3. Form: Small miniatures, 9 lines (above), and 5 lines (below)
4. Text: Above: John 18:38-40; below: John 19:1-16

fol. 65r:

1. 
2. Title: Christ on the way to the Calvary
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: John 19:16-22

fol. 65v:

1. 
2. Title: Soldiers cast lots for Christ's clothing
3. Form: Small miniature, 7 lines
4. Text: John 19:23-24

fol. 66r:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion
3. Form: Small miniature, 9 lines
4. Text: John 19:25-42

fol. 68r:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion
3. Form: Small miniature, 7 lines
4. Text: Prayer on the Seven Last Words of Christ
5. Comment:

   This is probably an early addition.

The binding is not original.

Nineteenth-century red velvet binding; yellow and gray-green woven silk ribbon marker, anchored under top endband; two fore-edge ties of yellow silk thread wrapped with silver (tarnished)

Created in the early sixteenth century in the Netherlands

Edwin H. Lawrence; his sale London 1892, lot no. 527

W. C. Hazlitt, London, purchased from Edwin H. Lawrence, 1892

Marshall C. Lefferts collection, New York, late nineteenth century; his monogram in small gold and black book-shaped bookplate at top left on front pastedown

George H. Richmond, purchased from Lefferts sale, 1901

Henry Walters, Baltimore, acquired from Richmond before 1931

The Walters Art Museum, by Henry Walters' bequest, 1931

De Ricci, Seymour, and William J. Wilson. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. Vol. 1. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1935, p. 815, no. 360.

Principal cataloger: Marrow, James

Catalogers: Devine, Alex; Dutschke, Consuelo; Herbert, Lynley; Valle, Chiara

Editor: Herbert, Lynley

Copy editor: Dibble, Charles

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

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

The Walters Art Museum

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