Two miniatures, on parchment, both fragments of a Book of Hours, depicting events in the Passion of Christ, both in color with gold and burnished gold. The first depicts the Flagellation of Christ within a stylized architectural frame. The second depicts the Carrying of the Cross in a stylized landscape which includes two other crosses erected against a gold diapered background
Description:
Attributed to the workshop of Jacquemart de Hesdin.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Jacquemart, de Hesdin, active 1380-1411. and Jesus Christ
Subject (Topic):
Passion, Books of hours, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on parchment. Includes: Letter of Eusebius to Carpianus; Eusebian Canons; the New Testament; Epiphanius of Cyprus, In Sabbato magno; and John Damascene, De dormientibus in fide
Description:
In Greek., Script: Written throughout in an extremely small Greek minuscule, by five scribes: Scribe 1, ff. 1r-32v and 171r-173r; Scribe 2, ff. 33v-68v; Scribe 3, ff. 69r-168r; Scribe 4, ff. 168r-170v; Scribe 5, ff. 173r-188v. Notes added on f. 33r (originally blank) and in margins by various later hands; in some of the notes on f. 33r Latin letters are used for Greek words., Two headings and title of Matthew in blue (f. 37r). Initials in red with simple floral ornament. Extensive rubrication. Headpieces and bars between sections in red, blue, green and yellow (all faded). Eusebian Canons done with compass and ruler, in red and blue., Several folios originally had holes, which have been written around., and Binding: Date? Original sewing on three chain supports laced in a Z pattern into square, flush wooden boards, grooved on the edges. Two pin holes in the edge of the upper board and three holes for each strap in the lower. Traces of rectangular plates (?) at the fore-edge near the head of the upper board and the tail of the lower. Rebacked and the sides covered with cloth.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Theology
In Latin., Script: Written in italic script by Piero Cennini (b. 1444)., Fine border and initials by Mariano del Buono. 3/4 white-vine border, f. 2r, infilled green, pink, and blue, against a blue ground, with white dots; putti and birds; at the periphery, flowers, gold dots, and hair-spray, especially profuse in lower margin; supported by a trellis, gold, which expands at regular intervals to form roundels. In upper margin, a blossom with fruits, in lower margin, in separate roundels, a hound chasing a stag, against deep landscape backgrounds. Between roundels with animals, the arms of Joannes Vitez, bishop of Gran, in a complex braided roundel, infilled green and blue with white and yellow filigree, and supported by four putti, two of which play musical instruments. One historiated initial, f. 1r, gold, Cicero reading a book, against a blue ground with stylized clouds, all against a green ground with yellow filigree. Thirty-two 7-, 6-, 5-, and 3-line initials, gold, with white-vine infilled green, pink, and blue, with white dots, against blue ground, with vines extending into margin, gold dots and hair-spray. Twelve 4- and 3-line initials, following f. 178, gold, against pink and blue or pink and green grounds, with white and/or yellow filigree. Following initials, one line of square capitals in brown or alternating red and brown. 1-line square capitals in text., The entire codex, including the binding, is in an excellent state of preservation., and Binding: Fifteenth century. Resewn on seven tawed, slit straps laid in channels and nailed into wooden boards. The spine is square, the edges gilt. Covered in ruby-red goatskin, blind-tooled with concentric panels. The rectangular central panel is reduced to a square with rope interlace and the central ornament is a four-pointed star protruding from a quatrefoil within a circle. Five foliate brass catches on the lower board. Stubs of green fabric clasp straps on the upper board. Rebacked; headbands and a gold-tooled spine added. Two catches and all clasps wanting.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Cicero, Marcus Tullius.
Subject (Topic):
Classical literature, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Philosophy
Manuscript on paper (polished, except for ff. 129-136) of Passages on Asceticism by various authors, including John Chrysostom, Basil, Isidore, Theodoretus, Maximus, Nilus. With other theological texts, especially concerning monasticism
Description:
In Greek., Unidentified watermarks: anchor in circle., Script: Written by a single scribe who signed himself "Callistus the holy deacon"., Simple headpieces on ff. 1r, 34r, 58r, 60v, 74r. Initials and headings, in red, for each new passage. Crudely drawn angel hovers over top of initial, f. 34r; birds perch on others. Folios 129-136 are not rubricated., and Binding: Date? Pastedowns sewn with bookblock. Three chain-stitched supports. Endbands attached to the square-edged, flush wooden boards. Loops of thread around the edges of the quires at head and tail. The spine is square and lined all along with vellum extending onto the inside of the boards and there seem to be lining strips extending on the outside of the boards also. Two pin holes with stubs of iron pins in them in the edges of the upper board and two holes for each strap on the lower. Rebacked. Covered with 13th-century Greek manuscript fragment containing musical notation, with front flyleaf from the same manuscript, and back flyleaf from a 12th century Greek liturgical text (all badly rubbed).
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Anastasius, Sinaita, Saint, active 640-700.
Subject (Topic):
Asceticism, Fathers of the church, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Monastic and religious life, and Theology
Manuscript on parchment of a Psalter, with astrological notes, a Calendar, and other litanies and prayers
Description:
In Latin., Written by two scribes in tiny gothic textura. Scribe 1: ff. 2v-91v; Scribe 2: ff. 91v (last folio of quire 8)-95v. Several later hands have added scribbles, prayers, and inscriptions on ff. 1r-2r, 10r, 95v, 96r, 97v, 98r, 99r., Small (6-line) and rather crude historiated initials. The initials for Ps. 52 (the Fool) and Ps. 109 (the Trinity) are missing. In each initial, the figure drawn in black and colored pink, green, and/or blue on a gold ground; the initials attached to cusped, tapering bar border, blue, red, and gold, with white highlights, with ivy terminal, black with red and green leaves. Gold and blue calligraphic initials (2-line), with blue and red penwork respectively; 1-line initials, alternating red and blue. KL monograms, gold on red and blue, with white highlights. Because the initial I was placed in the margin without an inset space in the text, the illuminator often missed it (e.g., for Ps. 70 on f. 42r; for Ps. 113 on f. 62r, and for Ps. 125 on f. 68v)., and Binding: 15th-16th centuries. Resewn on three two-layered tapes of tawed skin attached to wooden boards. The endband cores are of tawed skin with a tawed skin braid at the head, a new endband added at the tail. The spine is square and the cover adhered to it. Covered in tawed skin, originally pink, with corner tongues. Cover repaired at spine and two corners and two silver clasps added. In a flexible grey leather pouch.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Astrology, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Psalters
Manuscript on parchment of a Psalter-Hymnal, written for a Benedictine monastery. On the rear flyleaf, a fragment of the Gospel of Mark, 1:24-31 and 36-42, in West-Saxon translation
Description:
In Latin and Anglo-Saxon., Script: Copied by three scribes, all writing Northern Gothica Textualis Formata. The fragment is copied in careful Anglo-Saxon Minuscule., The decoration consists of 1-line plain initials alternately in red and blue in the text; 2-line flourished initials in blue with red penwork with marginal extensions; 3- and 5-line litterae duplices with partial or full penwork borders (J-motifs) as indicated in art. 2. Litterae duplices also on ff. 116r, 133v, 143v (artt. 3, 6 and 7)., and Binding: Original undecorated leather over oak boards (?). Spine with three raised bands. Traces (?) of one clasp.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Benedictines. and Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Liturgy, Hymns, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Monasticism and religious orders, and Psalters
Manuscript on parchment (hair side quite yellow) of Paulus de Sancta Maria (of Burgos; 1353-1435), Scrutinium Scripturarum. With Passages concerning the conversion of Jews to Christianity; (a) unidentified; (b) Letter of Pope Gregory I to Pascasius, bishop of Naples
Description:
In Latin., Script: Arts. 1 and 3 written below top line in fere-humanistic script by a single scribe who frequently erased and rewrote the text; art. 2 added in another hand. Some later marginalia., Crudely executed initial and full border on f. 9r: gold initial, 11-line, on blue rectangular ground, with white vine-stem ornamentation highlighted in green; border in gold, blue, pale pink, mauve and green, consisting of swirling acanthus leaves, flowers, birds, gold dots and leaves around bar border in upper and outer margin, and with putti supporting laurel wreath (arms effaced) in lower margin. One penwork initial of pathetic quality, 8-line, red and blue divided body accompanied by red and blue penwork designs, on f. 125v. Table of contents (art. 1) and headings throughout, in bright red. Remains of notes to rubricator., and Binding: 18th-19th centuries. Red goatskin, with green, gold-tooled labels. Yellow edges.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Naples (Italy)
Subject (Name):
Paulus de Sancta Maria.
Subject (Topic):
Conversion, Christianity, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Judaism, and Manuscripts, Medieval
Manuscript on paper (with parchment of poor quality for inner and outer bifolios of each gathering) of a collection of sermons and materials for the construction of sermons
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: unidentified crown in gutter., Script: Written by two scribes in Secretary script: Scribe 1 (pp. 1-141) uses a looped d; Scribe 2 (pp. 142-502) uses an unlooped d., Flourished initials, 3- to 2-line, red with blue designs and vice versa throughout manuscript. Brackets, initial strokes and underlining, in red, throughout. Opening words or line of each sermon in a careful text hand., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Half bound in brown calf, blind-tooled, with a gold-tooled title ("Sermones") on spine; dark blue cloth sides. Impression of oval label in upper register of spine.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Conrad, of Saxony.
Subject (Topic):
Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Sermons, and Sermons, Latin
Manuscript on paper, with parchment for outer and inner conjugate leaves of each quire, composed of four "booklets" or units of similar format. Part I: 1) William of St. Thierry, Epistola ad fratres de monte Dei, formerly attributed to Guigo and Bernard of Clairvaux. Part II: 2) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermo in festo annuntiationis B. V. Mariae. 3) Bernard of Cluny [?], Sermo de villico iniquitatis, formerly attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux. 4) Bernard of Cluny, Preface to art. 3. Part III: 5) Bernard of Clairvaux, De gradibus humilitatis et superbiae. 6) Jean, l'Homme de Dieu, Tractatus de ordine vitae et morum institutione, formerly attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux. Part IV: 7) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermo I pro Dom. VI post Pentecosten. 8) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermo II pro Dom. VI post Pentecosten. 9) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermo II pro Dom. VI post Pentecosten. 10) Anonymous sermon on the Virgin Mary. 11) Nicholas of Clairvaux, Sermo in natali S. Benedicti de euangelio. 12) Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermo in obitu Domini Humberti
Description:
In Latin., Watermarks: Part I: unidentified P in gutter. Parts II-IV: similar in design to Briquet Lettre Y 9182-84., Script: Part I (ff. 1-34): Written by a single scribe in well formed upright gothic script exhibiting batarde influence in the long descenders. Part II (ff. 35-46): Written in a script similar to that of Part I, but with less batarde shading. Part III (ff. 47-82): Written possibly by the same scribe as Part II. Part IV (ff. 83-99): Written in small cramped gothic script similar to those in I-III., Part I: Carefully executed red and blue divided initial, 8-line, on f. 1r; infilled and surrounded by delicate foliage designs in red and purple ink, on a green ground, with flourishes extending down inner border. Similar initial, f. 1v, without green ground and with blue scroll design for crossbar. Headings, paragraph marks, initial strokes, underlining, and Nota marks in red. Part II: Fine initial, 8-line, on f. 35r, divided red and blue, infilled and surrounded by six foliage designs in red penwork on green ground, with a central flower of six petals touched with yellow. Plain blue initial, 3-line, on f. 39v, with some floral designs in body in natural color of paper; red initials, 2-line, ff. 40r and 45v. Headings, initial strokes, underlining and corrections, in red. Paragraph marks in red or blue. Guide-letters for rubricator. Part III: Divided initial I, red and blue, 10-line, on f. 47r, with red and purple foliage designs on green ground surrounding initial, and with flourishes extending down inner margin. Blue initial, 4-line, on f. 68v, infilled and surrounded by penwork designs in red. Plain initials, 2-line, headings, initial strokes, paragraph marks, corrections, and some marginal notes, in red. Guide-letters and instructions for rubricator. Part IV: Blue initial, 5-line, on f. 83v, with interior floral designs in natural color of parchment; body infilled and surrounded by red penwork designs extending down inner margin. Initials, 5- to 2-line, headings, paragraph marks, in red., and Binding: 16th-17th centuries (?). Original sewing on four tawed, slit straps, the spine rounded and the supports prominent and defined. Plain, wound endbands on vegetable fiber cores, the covering leather saddle-stitched around them. Covered in dark brown calf with round and lozenge-shaped tools in diamonds and triangles formed by intersecting fillets in a central panel in a double outer frame. One fastening, the catch on the upper board and the strap wanting. Turk's head knot placemarks on the fore edge. Rectangular label removed from upper edge of front cover; two modern brown labels, stamped in gold, on spine: "Bernardi Varia" and "M. S." Original front pastedown: lower portion of a parchment bifolium (Germany, 15th century) of the Doctrinale of Alexander of Villa Dei with lines 1056-79 visible on verso and 1520-44 on recto. Ca. 5 mm. between lines of text. Binding restored.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 1091-1153., Catholic Church, and Cistercians.
Subject (Topic):
Didactic literature, Latin (Medieval and modern), Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Monasticism and religious orders, Sermons, and Theology
Manuscript on paper (sturdy). Pages 9-1315 contain Sermons and Lives of Saints for March 25 through August 29. The manuscript is composed of three parts; the second two serve to complete a text that was either unfinished or damaged
Description:
In Greek., Watermarks: anchor within a circle and surmounted by a six-pointed star, all three parts with assorted countermarks., Script: Part I (pp. 1-1315, skips 399): Executed by a single scribe in large bold minuscule. The scribe of Part II notes on p. 1315 that this portion was completed by Cyrillus in 1585 at the monastery of St. Simon Petras, with the subvention of Constantinus. Cyrillus' own signature occurs on p. 1323. Part II (pp. 1315-323): Written by a single scribe in a smaller, more calligraphic minuscule than Part I. Part III (pp. 1324-1334): Executed by a single scribe who signed and dated the section on p. 1334: Ioasaph, 15 January 1651., Part I: Intricate headpiece of vine-tendrils within rectangular blocks, outlined in black and filled with red, yellow, and pale gold (p. 9). Large initials, 10- to 8- line, of similar design and colors, appear for each new text together with narrow headpieces. Some instructions for the rubricator remain along upper and lower edges. Part II: Simple headpiece in black and red (p. 1316); one ornamental initial, 5-line, sprouting floral motifs on same page, in red. 2-line initials in gold. Part III: Headpiece of plaited design, in red and burnt orange (p. 1324); single decorative initial, 9-line, at beginning of text., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Half bound in purple calfskin with watered cloth sides. "Lectionary. Greek MS. Mt. Athos 1555" on spine.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut, New Haven., and Athos (Greece)
Subject (Name):
Orthodoxos Ekklēsia tēs Hellados.
Subject (Topic):
Christian hagiography, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, Monasticism and religious orders, and Sermons