Walters Ms. W.90, Book of Hours

W.90

Book of Hours

Book of Hours

This Book of Hours was produced in the early fourteenth century in northeast France. The contents of the calendar suggest a Use of Saint-Omer, which was in the diocese of Thérouanne. The presence of a female figure kneeling in prayer accompanying the Pentecost suggests that the manuscript was made for a female owner. The calendar contains marginal illumination with the labors of the months and the zodiac symbols. There are seven full-page miniatures depicting scenes from the book of Genesis, unusually contained within architectural settings. Twenty-four historiated initials, initials decorated with human heads, and an abundance of marginal figures makes this manuscript exceptionally charming.

Early 14th century CE

Northeast France (French Flanders)

Book

Devotional

The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.

Parchment

Thin to medium-weight, well-prepared parchment; flyleaves at beginning and end as well as pastedowns are modern marbleized paper

Foliation: i+254+i

Modern pencil foliation, upper right corners rectos

Formula: Quire 1: 8, with the first folio added (fols. 1-9); Quire 2: 6, with the sixth folio likely cancelled (fols. 10-14); Quire 3: 8, lacking second folio (fols. 15-21); Quires 4-11: 8 (fols. 22-85); Quire 12: 6, lacking sixth folio (fols. 86-90); Quires 13-17: 8 (fols. 91-130); Quire 18: 4 (fols. 131-134); Quires 19-21: 8 (fols. 135-158); Quire 22: 8, lacking fifth folio (fols. 159-165); Quires 23-31: 8 (fols. 166-237); Quire 32: 4 (fols. 238-241); Quire 33: 8 (fols. 242-249); Quire 34: 4, with fifth folio added (fols. 250-254)

Catchwords: Added at a later binding, lower right, versos (eg. fol. 29v)

Signatures: None

Comments:

9.3 cm wide by 13.0 cm high

3.8 cm wide by 6.3 cm high

1. Columns: 1
2. Ruled lines: 14
3. Ruled in lead; quire 4 ruled in brown ink; layout does not apply to calendar; 5 columns, 16 lines

fols. 2r - 253r:

1. Title: Book of Hours
2. Hand note: Textura; calendar and main text probably by different hand
3. Decoration note: Seven full-page miniatures; twenty-four historiated initials (8 lines); calendar has twelve labors (on versos) and zodiac (on rectos); decorated initials used for "KL" in calendar: red, blue, and gold, (3 lines); secondary text divisions: initials filled with human heads or grotesques (2 lines); versals in blue, rose, and gold (1 line); borders contain foliate decoration as well as extensive drolleries: animals, humans, and hybrids; occasional rubrics in red; text in dark brown ink

fols. 2v - 14v:

1. Title: Calendar
2. Rubric: Januarius
3. Contents: Calendar full, graded in red and brown; selection of saints indicates Use of Saint-Omer; saints of note are Austraberta (Feb. 10), Livin (Feb. 13, typically Nov. 12) Valeric (Apr. 1), Erkembodo (Apr. 12, relics at Saint-Omer), Ragnulf (May 27), Audomar (Jun. 8, translation), Wulmar (Jun. 17), Benedict (Jul. 2, commemoration), Bertin (Jul. 16, translation), Kenelm (Jul. 17), Cutuliani confessor (Jul. 18, Catulinus[?]), Louis (Aug. 25), Bertin (Sep. 5), Audomar (Sep. 9, octave Sep. 16), Dionysius (Oct. 9), Venantius (Oct. 2), Dedicatio ecclesie sancti audomari (Oct. 17), Audomar (Oct. 21, invention), Winnoc (Nov. 6), Cunibert (Nov. 12), Brictius (Nov. 13), Benedict (Dec. 3, translation), Nicolas (Dec. 6)
4. Decoration note: Marginal illustrations with twelve labors on versos and zodiac on rectos

fols. 15r - 21v:

1. Title: Prefatory image cycle
2. Decoration note: Seven full-page miniatures with scenes from Genesis

fols. 22r - 90r:

1. Title: Hours of the Virgin
2. Incipit: Domine labia mea
3. Contents: For Use of Saint-Omer; Lauds-Compline contain rubrics in Latin and French
4. Decoration note: Historiated initials fols. 22r, 48v, 61v, 67v, 71v, 75r, 78v, and 86r

fols. 91r - 134r:

1. Title: Long Hours of the Cross
2. Incipit: ...[ini]micus meus super me
3. Contents: Text begins imperfectly at Matins; blank spaces left for rubrics at canonical divisions; fol. 134v left blank
4. Decoration note: Historiated initials fols. 100r, 106v, 109v, 114v, 119v, 126r, and 130r

fols. 135r - 162v:

1. Title: Long Hours of the Holy Spirit
2. Incipit: Domine labia mea
3. Contents: Canonical divisions rubricated in French and Latin
4. Decoration note: Historiated initials fols. 135r, 144v, 148v, 151r, 153r, 155r, 157r, and 160r

fols. 163r - 194v:

1. Title: Commendation of Souls
2. Incipit: ...subvenite sancti dei
3. Contents: Section begins imperfectly, first page missing

fols. 194v - 241r:

1. Title: Office of the Dead
2. Rubric: Placebo domino in regione vivorum
3. Incipit: Dilexi quoniam exaudiet dominus
4. Contents: Text for Dominican use
5. Decoration note: Historiated initial fol. 194v, in some places blank space left for rubrics

fols. 241v - 244r:

1. Title: Prayer to the Virgin
2. Incipit: O intemerata et in eternum benedicta singularis

fols. 244r - 248r:

1. Title: Athanasian Creed
2. Incipit: Quicumque vult salvus esse

fols. 248r - 253v:

1. Title: Litany, petitions, and collects
2. Incipit: Kyrieeleyson
3. Contents: Saints chosen indicate Use of Saint-Omer: fols. 248r-251r: Litany, includes eleven martyrs; thirteen confessors such as Nicolas, Eligius, Aegydius, Amandus, Bertin, Audomar; thirteen virgins, widows, and continentes such as Gertrude, Walburga; fols. 251r-252v: petitions; fols. 252v-253v: collects, with responsories, concludes with prayer "Ego dixi domine miserere mei...."; fol. 154r-v: blank and ruled

fol. 2v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: two-faced man (Janus) feasting
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: January

fol. 3r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Aquarius
3. Form: Marginal Illumination
4. Text: Calendar: January

fol. 3v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: warming by the fire
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: February

fol. 4r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Pisces
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: February

fol. 4v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: man pruning
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: March

fol. 5r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Aries
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: March

fol. 5v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: youth holding branches
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: April

fol. 6r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Taurus
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: April

fol. 6v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: falconer
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: May

fol. 7r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Gemini
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: May

fol. 7v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: carrying bundles of sticks
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: June

fol. 8r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Cancer
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: June

fol. 8v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: mowing with a scythe
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar:July

fol. 9r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Leo
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calander: July

fol. 9v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: reaping
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: August

fol. 10r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Virgo
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: August

fol. 10v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: harvesting grapes
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: September

fol. 11r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Libra
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: September

fol. 11v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: sowing
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: October

fol. 12r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Scorpio
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: October

fol. 12v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: feeding pigs
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: November

fol. 13r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Sagittarius
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: November

fol. 13v:

1. 
2. Title: Labors of the Months: slaughtering a pig
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: December

fol. 14r:

1. 
2. Title: Zodiac: Capricorn
3. Form: Marginal illumination
4. Text: Calendar: December

fol. 15r:

1. 
2. Title: God Creates the Heavens
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 16r:

1. 
2. Title: God Creates the Earth
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 17r:

1. 
2. Title: God Creates the Animals
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 18r:

1. 
2. Title: God Creates Adam
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 19r:

1. 
2. Title: God Creates Eve from Adam
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 20r:

1. 
2. Title: Temptation of Adam and Eve
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis

fol. 21r:

1. 
2. Title: Day of Rest
3. Form: Full-page miniature
4. Text: Genesis
5. Comment:

   God in Majesty

fol. 22r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Annunciation
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Matins
5. Comment:

   Historiated initial much larger then throughout rest of book; woman dancing and man playing a horn in the right margin

fol. 48v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Visitation
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Lauds

fol. 61v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Nativity
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Prime

fol. 67v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Annunciation to the Shepherds
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Terce
5. Comment:

   knight on horseback directing lance towards the backside of an ape in lower margin

fol. 71v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Presentation at the Temple
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Sext

fol. 75r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Adoration of the Magi
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: None
5. Comment:

   Two ape-like creatures jousting on horseback in lower margin

fol. 78v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Massacre of the Innocents
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Vespers
5. Comment:

   Knight on horseback attacks ape with a sword in lower margin

fol. 86r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "C" with the Flight into Egypt
3. Form: Historiated initial "C," 8 lines
4. Text: Compline
5. Comment:

   Man on horseback with spear in lower-right margin

fol. 100r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with Christ before Pilate
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Lauds
5. Comment:

   Man hunting a stag with a bow and arrow in lower margin

fol. 106v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Flagellation
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Prime

fol. 109v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Christ carrying Cross
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Terce

fol. 114v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Crucifixion with Virgin, St. John Evangelist, Stephaton, and Longinus
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Sext

fol. 119v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Deposition
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: None
5. Comment:

   Birds perching on a rope held taught by an ape in lower margin

fol. 126r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Entombment and Anointing
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Vespers

fol. 130r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Resurrection
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Compline

fol. 135r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Pentecost
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Matins
5. Comment:

   Female manuscript owner in prayer in right margin with men playing music in lower and lower-right margins

fol. 144v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Martyrdom of St. Peter
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Lauds

fol. 148v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Martyrdom of St. Paul
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Prime
5. Comment:

   Knight clubbing a hare in left margin mirroring martyrdom of St. Paul

fol. 151r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with St. James
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Terce
5. Comment:

   Musicians in right margin and man attacking a snail with a spear in lower margin

fol. 153r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Martyrdom of St. Bartholomew
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Sext
5. Comment:

   Shirtless bishop walking on stilts in right margin

fol. 155r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with the Martyrdom of St. John the Evangelist
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: None
5. Comment:

   Two knights jousting in lower margin

fol. 157r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with St. Judas Thaddeus
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Vespers
5. Comment:

   Crowned musician in right margin

fol. 160r:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with St. John Baptist
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Text: Compline

fol. 194v:

1. 
2. Title: Initial "D" with a funeral service
3. Form: Historiated initial "D," 8 lines
4. Comment:

   Demons dragging sinners to hell and carting them in a wheelbarrow in lower margin; angel holding nimbed soul in upper-left margin, hooded, white figure carrying coffin in right margin

The binding is not original.

Eighteenth-century French binding in the style of Derome; dark green goat leather that has turned brown; board-edges, turn-ins, and spine have gilt decoration; initials of previous owner "J. L." in gold on upper-board added in second half of the nineteenth century; title inscribed on spine "Ofici B. Mariae".

Created in northeast France (French Flanders) in the early fourteenth century; portrait of female patron on fol. 135r, her association with the Dominican foundation suggested by Office of the Dead.

Seventeenth-century owner believed to be Spanish based on the brown ink inscription "252 fojas escritas" found on back flyleaf i, v

Front pastedown contains round ticket with scalloped edges that has not been identified, inscribed with "4366"

Rebound in the second half of the eighteenth century in France; "J. L." monogram added to cover in second half of the nineteenth century

Lionel Harris, London, owned until 1911

Henry Walters, Baltimore, purchased from Lionel Harris in 1911, according to letter by William Voelkle, "Brought to the Gallery by Mr. Walters, Oct. 1, 1911"

Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest

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Principal cataloger: Randall, Lilian M.C.

Cataloger: Shartrand, Emily

Editor: Herbert, Lynley

Copy editor: Dibble, Charles

Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail

Contributors: Emery, Doug; Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William; Schuele, Allyson; Sedovic, Katherine; 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.