Walters Ms. W.436, Prayer Book (compilation)

W.436

Prayer Book (compilation)

Prayer Book

This Prayer Book, ca. 1500, is a compilation of several texts from at least five different hands, with the miniatures featuring several hands as well. The illusionistic borders with exceptional motifs are of particular note. Borders towards the beginning of the book appear to be by a different artist, as later groups of borders differ in both design and color, with smaller motifs, less crowding, blossoming red carnations and lilies, and some amusing drolleries (fol. 57r-v).

Ca. 1500 CE

Ghent

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.

Parchment

Well-selected and prepared parchment, thin to medium weight through fol. 55, thicker thereafter; back flyleaf i is modern parchment with bifoliate facing pastedown

Foliation: i+95+bis+i

Two modern pencil foliations: one in lower left of each recto added ca. 1900; modern foliation in upper right corners rectos added in the later half of the twentieth century (used here)

Formula: Quire 1: 10 (fols. 1-10); Quire 2: 4, with first folio canceled (fols. 11-13); Quire 3: 2 (fols. 14-15); Quires 4-7: 8 (fols. 16-47); Quire 8: 4, including 48bis (fols. 48-50); Quire 9: 6 (fols. 51-56); Quires 10-18: 4 (fols. 57-92); Quire 19: 4, with third folio canceled (fols. 93-95)

Comments:

9.9 cm wide by 15.1 cm high

fols. 1r - 13v: 7.2 cm wide by 9.6 cm high

fols. 14r - 15v: 7.2 cm wide by 9.6 cm high

fols. 16r - 24r: 5.8 cm wide by 8.8 cm high

fols. 24v - 39r: 5.8 cm wide by 8.8 cm high

fols. 39v - 52v: 5.8 cm wide by 8.8 cm high

fols. 53r - 56r: 5.8 cm wide by 8.4 cm high

fols. 56v - 83v: 6.5 cm wide by 9.2 cm high

fols. 84r - 94v: 6.5 cm wide by 9.2 cm high

fols. 95r - 95v: 6.5 cm wide by 9.2 cm high

fols. 1r - 95v:

1. Due to the compilation style, the layout changes frequently; see parts for layout details

fols. 1r - 13v:

1. Columns: 4
2. Ruled lines: 17

fols. 14r - 15v:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 15

fols. 16r - 24r:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 14

fols. 24v - 39r:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 14

fols. 39v - 52v:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 14

fols. 53r - 56r:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 15

fols. 56v - 83v:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 18

fols. 84r - 94v:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 18

fols. 95r - 95v:

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 18

fols. 1r - 95v:

1. Title: Prayer Book
2. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda (fols. 2r-56r); littera gotica hybrida (fols. 56v-95v); selected texts written in several different hands, referred to in hand note of each part as scribal hand I-V
3. Decoration note: Thirteen extant miniatures (nine full-page) with artistic links with the style of Ghent-Bruges illumination from 1470-1520; nine historiated initials (5-9 lines); illusionistic borders, two main types: two examples from earlier part of manuscript, different hands, on four sides, opposite full-page miniature without border decoration (fol. 40r), other surrounding text opposite of presumed lost full-page miniature; second type of illusionistic borders at four out of five remaining text openings, on three sides and in top spandrels on illuminated versos, on four sides on most facing rectos, smaller and more varied motifs than found in first style of borders; borders contain drolleries at only one text opening (fols. 57v-58r); decorated illuminated initials (2-5 lines); rubrics pale mauve (mostly invisible); text in dark brown ink

fols. 1r - 13v:

1. Title: Calendar
2. Rubric: Januarius habet dies .xxxi. Luna xxx.
3. Contents: Months are one-fourth to three-fourths filled, Egyptian days designated; graded in red and black ink; number of hours per night and day are specified in red ink on each verso on last ruled line(s); names preceded with "Sanctus," "Sancta," or "Sanctorum" as appropriate, followed by designations that are at times un-abbreviated; contents indicate a collection of predominantly English with a mixture of northern French and Flemish feasts; those of note include: Wulstan (Jan. 19, "Wlstani epi."), David (Mar. 1), Gregory I (Mar. 12), Edward (Mar. 18, "Eduuardi regis," ruled 963-78), Cuthbert (Mar. 20; cf. Sept. 4), Benedict (Mar. 21; cf. Jul. 11), "Primum pascha" (Mar. 22), Richard (Apr. 3; cf. Apr. 16), Dunstan (May 19), Aldhelm (May 25), Edmund (Jun. 9, Translation), Richard (Apr. 16, Translation; cf. Apr. 3), Edward (Apr. 20, "Translacio eduuardi regis"; see Mar. 18), Ethelreda (Jun. 23, "etheldride," as in GM 5: Horae, Sarum use, ca. 1430-40, Fastolf Master, France [Rouen] or England?), Martin (Jul. 4, "Translacio et ordinatio . . ."; as in GM 5, etc.: see Jun. 23), Swithin (Jul. 15, "Translacio sancti suuythini epi.," distinctive spelling), Benedict (Jul. 11, Translation; cf. Mar. 21), Kenelm (Jul. 17), Oswald (Aug. 5), Augustine (Aug. 28, "epi et doctoris"), Cuthburga (Aug. 31), Cuthbert (Sept. 4, Translation; cf. Mar. 20), Bertin (Sept. 5), Edith (Sept. 16), Lambert (Sept. 17), Firminus (Sept. 25), Edward the Confessor (Oct. 13, "Translacio s. eduuardi regis.," ruled 1003-66), Callistus (Oct. 14, "pape."), Wulfram (Oct. 15; remains taken to Blandigny near Ghent in 858, moved to Abbéville in 1058), All Saints (Nov. 1, "Festivitas omnium sanctorum"), All Souls (Nov. 2, "Commemoracio animarum"), Leonard (Nov. 6), Brictius (Nov. 13), Maclovius (Nov. 15), Hugh of Lincoln (Nov. 17), Saturninus and Sisinnius (Nov. 29); no entry (Dec. 1), "O sapiencia" (Dec. 16)
4. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda; scribal hand I

fols. 14r - 15v:

1. Title: Suffrages
2. Rubric: Memoria de sancto leonardo
3. Incipit: Sancte leonarde confessor dei postula
4. Contents: Two suffrages, first consisting of prayer to St. Leonard followed by cues "Pater noster. Ave maria. Credo in deum."; second to St. David with antiphon, versicle, responsory, and prayer
5. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda, scribal hand I

fols. 16r - 24r:

1. Title: Gospel Sequences
2. Rubric: Inicium sancti evangelii. secundum iohannem.
3. Incipit: In principio erat verbum
4. Contents: Collection of five Gospel sequences; fol. 20r-v: third sequence is unusual in inclusion of Luke 1:39-47
5. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda; scribal hand II

fols. 24v - 39r:

1. Title: Devotional Sequence
2. Rubric: Devotissima oratio ad ihesum
3. Incipit: Domine ihesi christe fili dei
4. Contents: Fol. 25r-v: prayer to Christ; fols. 25v-30v: devotions to the Trinity; fols. 31r-39r: two prayers to the Virgin, the second cites St. John the Evangelist in heading: "Alia devotissima oratio ad beatissimam virginem mariam Et Johannem evangelista"
5. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda, scribal hand II
6. Decoration note: Two full-page miniatures on fols. 24v and 25v

fols. 39v - 52v:

1. Title: Suffrages to female saints
2. Rubric: Antiphona de beata maria virginie
3. Incipit: Sub tuam protectionem
4. Contents: Fol. 40r: Virgin Mary, "Sub tuam protectionem confugimus ubi infirmi acceperunt virtutem. . . ."; fol. 41r: Anne, "Gaude felix anna que concepisti prolem que erat paritum. . . ."; fol. 42v: blank; fol. 43r: Margaret, "Gaude virgo margareta. Quae nutricis gregem leta. . . ."; fol. 44v: blank, ruled; fol. 45r: Elizabeth, "Ante thorum huius virginis frequentate nobis. . . ."; fol. 45r: blank, ruled; fol. 46r: Osyth ("Sitha"), rhyming, "Ave sancta famula sitha ihesu xriste Que cum tota anima deo placuisti. Cecos mutos debiles et cludos iniusti. Semper elemosinam dare quesiuisti. . . ."; fol. 47r: Catherine, rhyming, "Gaude virgo katherina. qua doctores lex diuina traxit ab erroribus. . . ."; fol. 48v: blank; fol. 48bis r-v: Barbara, text ends imperfectly, "Gaude barbara regina summa possens in doctrina angeli misterio . . . . Oremus O. s. d. trina et una inseparabilis que maiestas qui sanctissimam virginem et"; fols. 49-52v: blank, ruled through fol. 50v
5. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda; scribal hand II
6. Decoration note: One full-page miniature on fol. 39r

fols. 53r - 56r:

1. Title: Suffrage to the Holy Face
2. Rubric: Ad faciem domini nostri ihesu christe
3. Incipit: Salve sancta facies nostri
4. Contents: Rhyming suffrage antiphon; fols. 54v-56r: blank, ruling on fol. 54v only
5. Text note: Motto and monogram initial on fol. 58r: "Da Vivere" about "P R," the "P" perhaps standing for Peter, visual emphasis on St. Peter evinced on fol. 58r and through embellishment of his feast in calendar entry
6. Hand note: Written in Burgundian littera batarda, scribal hand III

fols. 56v - 83v:

1. Title: Devotional Sequence
2. Rubric: Sequitur oratio ante missam dicendum
3. Incipit: Confitebor tibi domine
4. Contents: Fols. 57r-67r: pre-Communion prayers, sixth ascribed to St. Augustine; fols. 67r-68v: Seven Verses of St. Gregory, for recitation before pious image appearing to him, maximum but unspecified indulgence said in heading to be granted by this pope, Gregory I, for recitation with Pater noster and Ave maria; fols. 68v-69r: three prayers to Christ, said in heading to have been in same chapel as Holy Cross of seven Romans, recitation yields unspecified maximum indulgence; fols. 69v-70r: prayer of Indulgence, heading prescribes recitation during or after elevation of Host and alleges its composition by Gregory VIII (pope 731-41) at request of the queen of England, recitation worth as many indulgences as wounds in Christ's body, although total number of wounds not specified in text; fols. 70v-72r: prayer on Seven Last Words of the Lord, attributed heading to Bede, each remark rubricated; fols. 72v-83v: twelve prayers to the Virgin, the first a variant of prayer on; fols. 36r-39r
5. Hand note: Written in littera gothica hybrida; scribal hand IV
6. Decoration note: Five full-page miniatures on fols. 56v, 57v, 61v, 70v, and 72v

fols. 84r - 94v:

1. Title: Suffrages
2. Rubric: Oratio Sequitur de Sancta Trinitate
3. Incipit: Te deum patrem ingenitum
4. Contents: Fourteen suffrages, four rhyming, varying heading format, ending imperfectly; fol. 84r: Trinity; fol. 84v: Guardian angel; fol. 84v: Raphael; fol. 85, lines 16-18: John the Baptist, unrubricated heading below rubricated couplet with anti-feminine sentiment (cf. Walther, Initia, 3772, 7648); fol. 87r: Peter; fol. 87v: Sebastian; fol. 88v: Rochus; fol. 89v: Jerome; fol. 90v: Bernard of Clairvaux, rhyming, preceded by rubric specifying indulgence granted by Pope Sixtus Alexander (presumably Alexander VI, 1492-1503) for contrite confession of 3,000 venial and 20,000 criminal sins and triple recitation of prayer before image of St. Anne, followed by prayer yielding one-hundred indulgences, attributed in heading to a certain cardinal Raymond; fol. 92r: Catherine, rhyming (cf. fols. 47r-48r, different antiphon with same collect); fol. 93r: Barbara; fol. 93v: 11,000 Virgins, rhyming; fol. 94v: Agnes, ending imperfectly
5. Hand note: Written in littera gothica hybrida; scribal hand IV
6. Decoration note: Four large miniatures on fols. 85v, 86v, 89v, and 91v; nine historiated initials on fols. 84r, 84v, 88r, 88v, 90v, 92r, 93r, 94r, and 94v

fols. 95r - 95v:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin
2. Incipit: Obsecro te domina sancta maria
3. Contents: Added early, see W.432, ca. 1500, North Netherlands, opening prayer
4. Hand note: Written in littera gothica hybrida; scribal hand V

fol. 17v:

1. 
2. Title: Annunciation
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Gospel Sequences: Gospel Sequence of St. Luke

fol. 24v:

1. 
2. Title: Christ Child supported and flanked by six angels holding instruments of the Passion
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: Prayer to Christ

fol. 25v:

1. 
2. Title: Trinity: Throne of Grace
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: Prayer to the Trinity

fol. 39v:

1. 
2. Title: Virgin and Child attended by angel, revered by cleric
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Suffrages to female Saints: Suffrage to the Virgin

fol. 56v:

1. 
2. Title: Agony in the Garden
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: "Confitebor tibi"

fol. 57v:

1. 
2. Title: Christ as Man of Sorrows seated on cross, revered by cleric
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: "O fons totius"

fol. 61v:

1. 
2. Title: Mass of St. Gregory, vision of Christ flanked by instruments of the Passion
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: Communion Mass, verses of St. Gregory

fol. 70v:

1. 
2. Title: Crucifixion
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: Seven Last Words

fol. 72v:

1. 
2. Title: Lamentation, witnessed by reverent cleric
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Devotional Sequence: "O intemerata"

fol. 84r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "T" with Trinity
3. Form: Historiated initial "T," 9 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to Trinity

fol. 84v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "A" with angel
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to Guardian Angel

fol. 85v:

1. 
2. Title: St. John the Baptist
3. Form: Large miniature, 15 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. John the Baptist

fol. 86v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Peter as pope; Christ on the shore of the Sea of Tiberius, the miraculous catch of fishes
3. Form: Large miniature, 13 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Peter

fol. 88r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "O" with St. Sebastian in armor holding lance and arrows
3. Form: Historiated initial "O," 7 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Sebastian

fol. 88v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "A" with St. Rochus
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 6 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Rochus

fol. 89v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Jerome in penance
3. Form: Large miniature, 15 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Jerome

fol. 90v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "O" with St. Bernard trampling the devil
3. Form: Historiated initial "O," 8 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Bernard of Clairvaux

fol. 91v:

1. 
2. Title: St. Anne with the Virgin Mary and Christ Child
3. Form: Large miniature, 15 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Prayer in Suffrage to St. Anne

fol. 92r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "G" with St. Catherine
3. Form: Historiated initial "G," 5 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Catherine

fol. 93r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "A" with St. Barbara
3. Form: Historiated initial "A," 9 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Barbara

fol. 94r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "O" with St. Ursula sheltering a pope, cardinal, and female virgin saints
3. Form: Historiated initial "O," 9 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to 11,000 Virgins

fol. 94v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "S" with St. Agnes with tooth attribute of St. Apollonia
3. Form: Historiated initial "S," 8 lines
4. Text: Suffrages: Suffrage to St. Agnes

The binding is not original.

Mid-nineteenth-century French binding by Capé, Paris; brown leather; modern sewing on five chords; apparent set of five pairs of deep cuts is evidence in the first quire of earlier sewing; sides feature fleurs-de-lis; modern gilt edges; name of binder in gold capitals centered on inside of front cover, tail-edge (Capé was active at 16 rue Dauphine in Paris, 1848-67: Devauchelle, vol. 2, pp. 200, 205, vol. 3, pp. 41-42; for another Capé binding, see WAG 1957, no. 554)

Transcriptions by five or more scribes, ca. 1490-1510; links with Rooclooster suggested; illuminated in the style of Ghent-Bruges school, probably Ghent, ca. 1500; ecclesiastical patronage, English connection indicated; presumed first patron depicted on fol. 39v

Unidentified presumed second patron depicted on fols. 57v and 72v

Seventeenth-century(?) ownership inscription; effaced 6-line inscription below end of text on fol. 95v

Rebound in the mid-nineteenth century in Paris by M. Capé

Henry Walters, Baltimore, purchased 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. 809, cat. no. 328.

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. 509-521, cat. no. 295.

Principal cataloger: Randall, Lilian M.C.

Cataloger: Herbold, Rebekah

Editor: Herbert, Lynley

Copy editor: Wallace, Susan

Conservators: Polidori, Tia; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Brown, Emily; Emery, Doug; Herbold, Rebekah; 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.