The Psalter of Robert de Lisle (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Other Illuminated manuscripts

Because of the Très Riches Heures de Jean de France, Duc de Berry, the celebrated Fiztwilliam Book of Hours (see Google images) and the numerous Books of Hours produced in the Middle Ages, we tend to associate illuminated books, or books with enluminures, with Books of Hours (Livres d’heures or Horæ).  However, there are many illuminated manuscripts serving other purposes, yet utilizing the main artistic elements of Books of Hours: illuminations and fine calligraphy.

Many facsimile editions of illuminated manuscripts can be bought online.  I have used some of these facsimile editions.  If a title is followed by an**, that title is a link often leading to a commercial site.  It allows buyers and other individuals to see the product.  Prices vary.  The Folio Society edition of the Fitzwilliam Book of Hours is expensive, but other facsimile editions of illuminated manuscripts are more or less affordable.

Below you will find examples of authentic illuminated manuscripts and reproductions.  As for the Gallery, it does not contain images copied from commercial sites.

• The Abécédaire: (L’Abécédaire de Claude de France, or the Primer of Claude of France**);
• The Antiphonary (Wiki): Antiphonaire, f4, Cathedrale San Lorenzo Perrugia, Italy;
• Apocalypse books (Wiki): The Corpus Apocalypse;** The Corpus Apocalypse;** The Bamberg Apocalypse (Wiki); Google images;
• The Bestiary (Wiki): The Aberdeen Bestiary (Wiki); The Aberdeen Bestiary; Google images
• The Breviary (Wiki): The Grimani Breviary**
• The Gospel Book (Wiki): The Book of Kells (Wiki); The Book of Kells;** Google Images; The Lindisfarne Gospels**
• The Missal (Wiki): The Missal of Barbara of Brandenburg;**
• The Psalter (Wiki): Le Psautier doré de Munich, or The Munich Golden Psalter;** The Psalter of Robert de Lisle**
• Various prayer books: Prayer to the Virgin

Like Books of Hours, the Breviary is an abridged version of the Liber Usualis.  However, it is used by bishops, priests and deacons, not lay Christians.  The Breviary   “contains the canonical prayers, hymns, the Psalms, readings and notations for everyday use.” (“Breviary,” Wikipedia)

A Tiny Gallery

Miniatures depicting the months of December and August, from the Grimani Breviary, illuminated by Gerard Horenbout with Alexander and Simon Bening. The August page (to the right) was illuminated by Alexander and Simon Bening only. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) 

(please click on the images to enlarge them)

The Corpus Apocalypse (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Lindisfarner Gospel (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

“The Lindisfarne Gospels is an illuminated Latin manuscript of the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in the British Library. The manuscript was produced on Lindisfarne in Northumbria in the late 7th century or early 8th century, and is generally regarded as the finest example of the kingdom’s unique style of religious art, a style that combined Anglo-Saxon and Celtic themes, what is now called Hiberno-Saxon art, or Insular art. The manuscript is complete (though lacking its original cover).” (YouTube description)

 

 

piece: O Euchari in Leta Via

performers: Catherine King, Emily Van Evera, Richard Souther & Sister Germaine Fritz

Information

1. “abecedarius”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1004/abecedarius>.
2. “breviary”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/79032/breviary>.
3.  “Claude Of France”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/120451/Claude-Of-France>.
4. “New Testament”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/412114/New-Testament?overlay=true&assemblyId=73072>.
5. “missal”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 09 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/385386/missal>.
6. “responsorial singing”. Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
   Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2013. Web. 08 Feb. 2013
   <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/499643/responsorial-singing>.

The first horseman as depicted in the Bamberg Apocalypse (1000-1020). The first “living creature” (with halo) is seen in the upper right.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

© Micheline Walker

9 February 2013

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Related articles

• Books of Hours, a Rich Legacy (michelinewalker.com)
• Les Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, revisited (michelinewalker.com)