Leaf from a Missal, No. 15

Place of OriginFrance (Beauvais)

Datelate 13th century

DimensionsOverall: 8 3/8 x 11 3/8 in. (21.3 x 28.9 cm)

MediumVellum

ClassificationManuscripts

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1953.129O

Not on View

DescriptionLatin text; Transitional Gothic script

Label TextThis manuscript leaf was once part of a Missal (prayer book for Mass) that was a gift to a church in Beauvais, a principal European art center located outside of Paris. Although we often do not know who originally owned medieval books and manuscripts, in this instance information gathered from historical records points to a possible original owner: Robert de Hangest, a canon (cathedral priest) in Beauvais. Prior to the invention of the printing press in the mid-1400s, and in some cases after, books were handwritten on processed animal skins. This vellum (calf skin) page’s text is written in Latin using Transitional Gothic Script and is interspersed with musical notation. Sacred books like this Missal were frequently embellished to honor God. In addition to the text, the medieval scribe included ornamented initials that have long serpentine and leaf-like terminals to frame each column and smaller initials filled with quatrefoils (four-lobed shapes) to complement the music’s lyrics. Look for the animal head hidden within one of the decorated initials.Exhibition HistoryRemoved from exhibition on 4/29/2008. Should not be exhibited again until 2012.