- Title: Illuminated manuscript leaf from a Book of Hours
- Origin: France
- Estimated year of printing: 1250 – 1320
Notes:
The oldest item in my collection, this is a beautiful illuminated manuscript leaf from a small Parisian medieval Book of Hours. Handwritten by a scribe, this manuscript features 16 lines of Gothic textualis script on vellum, with several illuminated initials in red, blue, and gold leaf ink, as well as bar panels ornamenting the right margin in several spots.
Books of Hours were Christian prayer books, particularly popular in the Middle Ages. They contained a mix of Bible verses, prayers, and psalms, often decorated with picturesque images. This particular leaf contains part of Pslam 98 (“…sing and rejoice, and play. Play to the Lord upon the harp.”), as well as the Doxology (“Glory be to the Father”), and a reading from the Book of Sirach (also known as Ecclesiaticus). Words in red are instructions to the reader.
Every manuscript such as this is a unique work of art, and so precisely dating and geographically placing them can be challenging. How do we know this is from France? Most of the text is in Latin, but there is one stray sentence in French: “La premiere lect.” (“The first reading”) The lack of an accent in “premiere” shows this as being Old French (800s – 1400s). The script, called Northern Textualis, was particularly popular in France starting in the 1200s, and the generous margins of the page are typical of Parisian luxury manuscripts of the 13th-14th centuries.
Historical context:
Most of what we know about the 1200s relates to military and politics. Genghis Khan conducted massive conquests across China, Persia, and Russia, creating the largest contiguous land empire. In England, King John signed the Magna Carta, which limited monarchical power and went onto influence political structures to this day. The famous explorer Marco Polo was active during this time, traveling to China and introducing Europeans to Asian culture.
Transcription & Translation:
| …cantate et exultate et psallite. Psallite domino in cythara in cy- thara et voce psalmi in tubis ductilib[us] et voce tube cornee. Iubilate in conspectu regis domini moveatur mare et plenitudo eius or- bis terrarum et universi qui habitant in eo. Flumina plaudent manu si- mul montes exultabunt a conspectu domini: quoniam venit iudicare ter- ram. Iudicabit orbem terrarum iusticia et populos in equitate. Gloria patri [et filio et spiritui sancto…] Antienne Post partum virgo inviolata permansi- sti dei genitrix intercede pro nobis. Vers. Diffusa est gratia in labiis tuis. | …sing, and rejoice, and play. Play to the Lord upon the harp; with the harp and the voice of a psalm; with trumpets of metal, and the sound of a horn of ivory. Rejoice in the presence of the Lord our King: let the sea be moved and the fullness thereof; the world, and all they that dwell therein. The rivers shall clap their hands, and the mountains shall rejoice together at the presence of the Lord: for he comes to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with justice, and the people with equity. Glory be to the Father [and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…] Antiphon: After childbirth, O Virgin, thou didst remain inviolate: Mother of God, intercede for us. Versicle: Grace is poured forth upon thy lips. |
| Respons. Propterea benedixit te deus in eternum. Kyrieleyson. Christeleyson. Kyrieleyson. Pater noster. Et ne nos i. Sed libera. Absolutio. Precibus et meritis beate marie et omnium sanctorum perducat nos dominus ad regna celorum. Amen. Iube domne benedicere. Bene dictio. Nos cum prole beata benedicat virgo pia maria. Amen. la premiere lect. In omnibus requiem quesivi et in hereditate domini morabor. Tunc precepit et dixit mihi creator omnium. et qui creavit me requie vit in tabernaculo suo. Et dixit mihi. in iacob inhabita. et in is rael hereditare. et in electis meis | Response: Therefore God has blessed you forever. Lord have mercy. Christ have mercy. Lord have mercy. Our Father. And lead us not [into temptation]. But deliver [us from evil]. Absolution: Through the prayers and merits of the Blessed Mary and of all the Saints, may the Lord lead us to the kingdoms of heaven. Amen. Command, O Lord, a blessing. Blessing: May the Virgin Mary, with her blessed offspring, bless us. Amen. The First Lesson: In all things I sought rest, and I shall abide in the inheritance of the Lord. Then the Creator of all things commanded and spoke to me; and He who created me rested in my tabernacle. And He said to me: “Dwell in Jacob, and have your inheritance in Israel, and [take root] among my elect.” |
Further Reading:
Acquired January, 2026