A digital facsimile of selections fromWalters Ms. W.51, Bible
Published by: The Walters Art Museum 600 N. Charles Street Baltimore, MD 21201 http://www.thewalters.org/
Released under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode Published 2013
This document is a digital facsimile of selections from a manuscript belonging to the Walters Art Museum, in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. It is one of a number of manuscripts that have been digitized as part of a project generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by an anonymous donor to the Walters Art Museum. More details about the manuscripts at the Walters can be found by visiting The Walters Art Museum's website www.thewalters.org. For further information about this book, and online resources for Walters manuscripts, please contact us through the Walters Website by email, and ask for your message to be directed to the Department of Manuscripts.
Shelf mark
Walters Art Museum Ms. W.51
Descriptive Title
Bible
Text title
Bible
Abstract
This pocket-size Bible was created around the middle of the thirteenth century in England. It contains the Vulgate text of the Old and New Testaments, arranged in order and divided into chapters. Such Bibles, designed for individual rather than institutional use, began to be created on a large scale during the thirteenth century, especially in Paris. This manuscript is illuminated with a large number of small historiated initials, and also includes a somewhat later image of the Three Living and the Three Dead, a popular scene based on a French poem of the same century.
Date
Ca. 1260 CE; miniature additions ca. 1290-1300 CE
Origin
England
Form
Book
Genre
Scriptural
Language
The primary language in this manuscript is Latin.
Support material
Parchment Very thin parchment, of high quality; flesh and hair sides clearly distinguishable
Extent
Foliation: ii+532+ii Modern pencil foliation, top right corners, rectos
Collation
Formula: 1(2), 2-15(16), 16(12), 17 (16,-1); 18-29(16), 30(18), 31(14), 32(18), 33-34(14), 35(10,-10) Catchwords: None Signatures: None Comments: Quire 1, on thicker parchment, is a later insertion; quires begin on fols. 1(1), 3(2), 19(3), 35(4) 51(5), 67(6), 83(7), 99(8), 115(9), 131(10), 147(11), 163(12), 179(13), 195(14), 211(15), 227(16), 239(17), 254(18), 270(19), 286(20), 302(21), 318(22), 334(23), 350(24),
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366(25), 382(26), 398(27), 414(28), 430(29), 446(30), 464(31), 478(32), 496(33), 510(34), 524(35) Dimensions
9.5 cm wide by 14.5 cm high
Written surface
7.0 cm wide by 10.5 cm high
Layout
fols. 1r - 532v: Columns: 2 Ruled lines: 48-49 Two columns app. 3.25cm wide, with gap app. .5cm wide; ruling in faint brown pen fols. 520r - 532v: Two columns app. 3.4 cm wide (wider than in Bible because capitals extend beyond normal lines) with gap app. 0.2 cm wide; ruling in faint brown pen
Contents
fols. 1r - 532v: Title: Bible Hand note: Gothic textura by several different hands; characters just over 1 mm in height Decoration note: Historiated initials at beginnings of most books (5-14 lines); decorated initials (4-8 lines), sometimes with dragons or lions, at beginnings of prologues and some books; 2 line capitals at beginnings of chapters, in red and blue, with contrasting flourishes; running heads in alternating blue and red capitals; rubrics generally left blank, but in red for fols. 263r-339v; text in various shades, from light brown to black fols. 1r - 519v: Title: Bible with prologues Incipit: Frater Ambrosius tua mihi Contents: Fols. 1r-2v: images of the Three Living and the Three Dead (later addition); fols. 3r-6r: general prologue; fols. 6r-6v: prologue to the Pentateuch; fols. 6v-29v: Genesis; fols. 29v-48v: Exodus; fols. 48v-60v: Leviticus; fols. 61r-77v: Numbers; fols. 77v-93v: Deuteronomy; fols. 93v-104r: Joshua, with prologue; fols. 104v-116r: Judges; fols. 116r-117v: Ruth; fols.
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117v-135r: I Kings, with prologue; fols. 135r-178r: II-IV Kings; fols. 178r-192r: I Chronicles, with two prologues; fols. 192r-208v: II Chronicles, with prayer of Manasses omitted; fols. 208v-213r: I Ezra, with prologue; fols. 213r-219v: II Ezra; fols. 219v-226v: III Ezra; fols. 226v-231r: Tobias, without prologue; fols. 231r-236v: Judith, without prologue; fols. 236v-242v: Esther, without prologue; fols. 242v-254r: Job, with prologue; fols. 254r-263r: Proverbs, with prologue; fols. 263r-266r: Ecclesiastes, without prologue; fols. 266r-267v: Song of Songs; fols. 267v-273v: Wisdom, without prologue; fols. 273v-290r: Ecclesiasticus, with introduction treated as prologue, but without prayer of Solomon; fols. 290r-310v: Isaiah, with prologue; fols. 310v-334v: Jeremiah, with prologue; fols. 334v-336v: Lamentations; fols. 336v-339v: Baruch, with prologue and letter of Jeremiah; fols. 339v-360v: Ezekiel, with prologue; fols. 360v-370r: Daniel, with two prologues; fols. 370r-373r: Hosea with prologue; fols. 373r-374r: Joel, with prologue; fols. 374r-376v: Amos, with prologue; fols. 376v-377v: Obadiah, with two prologues; fols. 377v-378v: Jonah, with prologue; fols. 378v-380v: Micah, with prologue; fols. 380v-381v: Nahum, with prologue; fols. 381v-382v: Habakkuk, with prologue; fols. 382v-383v: Zephaniah, with prologue; fols. 383v-384v: Haggai, with prologue; fols. 384v-388r: Zechariah, with prologue; fols. 388r-389r: Malachi, with prologue; fols. 389r-413v: I-II Maccabees, with prologue; fols. 413v-426v: Matthew, with prologue; fols. 426v-435r: Mark, with prologue; fols. 435r-450r: Luke, with first four verses as prologue; fols. 450r-461r: John, with prologue; fols. 461r-476r: Acts, with prologue; fols. fols. 476r-483r: Romans, with two prologues; fols. 483r-488v: I Corinthians, with prologue; fols. 488v-492r: II Corinthians, with prologue; fols. 492r-494r: Galatians, with prologue; fols. 494r-496r: Ephesians, with prologue; fols. 496r-497r: Philippians, with prologue; fols. 497r-498v: Colossians, with prologue; fols. 498v-499v: I Thessalonians, with
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prologue; fols. 499v-500r: II Thessalonians, with prologue; fols. 500r-501v: I Timothy, with prologue; fols. 501v-502v: II Timothy, with prologue; fols. 502v-503r: Titus, with prologue; fols. 503r-503v: Philemon, with prologue; fols. 503v-507r: Hebrews, with prologue; fols. 507r-513r: Catholic epistles, with prologue; fols. 513r-519v: Apocalypse, with prologue Text note: Thirty-nine of the sixty-four common prologues are included and several others added; the Psalms are omitted; Acts follows John fols. 520r - 532v: Title: List of Hebrew names Incipit: Aaron mons fortis Contents: A dictionary of Hebrew names, with a list of idols appended in the same hand Decoration note: First letter of each section is decorated; first letter of each entry in blue or red (alternating); text in dark brown Decoration
fol. 1v: Title: The Three Living Form: Full-page miniature Comment: Corresponds with the Three Dead on fol. 2r; both miniatures added after the book was composed, ca. 1290-1300 fol. 2r: Title: The Three Dead Form: Full-page miniature Comment: Corresponds with the three living on fol. 1v; both miniatures added after the book was composed, ca. 1290-1300 fol. 3r: Title: Frater Ambrosius Form: Historiated initial "F," 7 lines Text: General prologue fol. 6v: Title: Creation Form: Historiated initial "I" spanning the entire page
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Text: Genesis 1:1 Comment: Eight scenes: God enthroned, day and night, earth and sea, plants, sun and moon, animals, Adam, Eve fol. 29v: Title: Pharoah and the midwives of Egypt Form: Historiated initial "H," 8 lines Text: Exodus 1:1 fol. 48v: Title: Moses and God in tabernacle Form: Historiated initial "U," 9 lines Text: Leviticus 1:1 fol. 61r: Title: God speaks to Moses in the desert Form: Historiated initial "L," 7 lines Text: Numbers 1:1 fol. 77v: Title: Moses speaks to the Israelites Form: Historiated initial "H," 8 lines Text: Deuteronomy 1:1 fol. 93v: Title: Initial with dragon Form: Inhabited initial "E," 8 lines Text: Joshua 1:1 fol. 104v: Title: God appears to the elders Form: Historiated initial "P," 8 lines Text: Judges 1:1 fol. 118v: Title: Hannah and Eli Form: Historiated initial "F," 8 lines Text: I Kings 1:1 fol. 135r: Title: David and the Amalekite Form: Historiated initial "F," 8 lines Text: II Kings 1:1
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fol. 148r: Title: David with Abishag Form: Historiated initial "E," 7 lines Text: III Kings 1:1 fol. 163v: Title: Ahaziah falls from the window Form: Historiated initial "P," 8 lines Text: IV Kings 1:1 fol. 226v: Title: Tobit buries a body Form: Historiated initial "T," 7 lines Text: Tobias 1:1 fol. 231r: Title: Judith and Holofernes Form: Historiated initial "A," 5 lines Text: Judith 1:1 fol. 242v: Title: Job sits on dungheap Form: Historiated initial "U," 8 lines Text: Job 1:1 fol. 254r: Title: Solomon teaches youth Form: Historiated initial "P," 6 lines Text: Proverbs 1:1 fol. 266r: Title: Queen with child Form: Historiated initial "O," 6 lines Text: Song of Songs 1:1 fol. 267v: Title: Solomon with men Form: Historiated initial "D," 6 lines Text: Wisdom 1:1 fol. 290v: Title: God speaks to Isaiah Form: Historiated initial "U," 6 lines Text: Isaiah 1:1
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fol. 310v: Title: God speaks to Jeremiah Form: Historiated initial "U," 6 lines Text: Jeremiah 1:1 fol. 339v: Title: Ezekiel's vision Form: Historiated initial "E," 6 lines Text: Ezekiel 1:1 fol. 361v: Title: Daniel and the lions Form: Historiated initial "A," 6 lines Text: Daniel 1:1 fol. 370r: Title: God speaks to Hosea Form: Historiated initial "U," 6 lines Text: Hosea 1:1 fol. 374v: Title: Amos as shepherd Form: Historiated initial "U," 5 lines Text: Amos 1:1 fol. 377v: Title: Jonah and the whale Form: Historiated initial "E," 6 lines Text: Jonah 1:1 fol. 378v: Title: Micah addresses followers Form: Historiated initial "U," 6 lines Text: Micah 1:1 fol. 389v: Title: Knight on horseback Form: Historiated initial "E," 6 lines Text: I Maccabees 1:1 fol. 414r: Title: Matthew writing Form: Historiated initial "L," 6 lines Text: Matthew 1:1
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fol. 426v: Title: Lion and cub Form: Historiated initial "M," 6 lines Text: Prologue to Mark fol. 435r: Title: Sacrifice of ox Form: Historiated initial "F," 6 lines Text: Luke 1:5 fol. 450r: Title: St. John with eagle Form: Historiated initial "I," 14 lines Text: John 1:1 fol. 461r: Title: St. Luke writing, with marginal figure of St. John Form: Historiated initial "P," 6 lines Text: Acts 1:1 Comment: The figure of St. John, who stands on an eagle and points toward a particular passage, is probably a later addition fol. 477v: Title: St. Paul writing Form: Historiated initial "P," 6 lines Text: Romans 1:1 fol. 492r: Title: Initial with lion; figure in margin Form: Inhabited initial "P," 6 lines Text: Galatians 1:1 fol. 508v: Title: St. Peter with key Form: Historiated initial "P," 5 lines Text: 1 Peter 1:1 fol. 513r: Title: St. John writing Form: Historiated initial "A," 6 lines Text: Apocalypse 1:1
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Binding
The binding is not original. Eighteenth-century gilt red morocco, with tooled spine and title "Biblia Latina M.ss sur Velin;" gilt edges; marbled paper pastedowns
Provenance
Created in England, ca. 1260 CE Ca. 1300, England, embellished with images of Three Lving and Three Dead (fols. 1v-2r), as well as various marginal illustrations Owned by "Mr. Hulinx Borum fro S. Moris," England, sixteenth-century (inscription fol. 1r) Seventeenth-century owner's notes in Latin (fol. 1r) France, eighteenth-century, rebound, with unidentified owner's bookplate on inner board: D + G with crown above, "Faire bien chercher mieux" Henry Walters, Baltimore, before 1931; by purchase from LĂŠon Gruel, Paris
Acquisition
Walters Art Museum, 1931, by Henry Walters' bequest
Bibliography
De Ricci, Seymour, and W.J. Wilson. Census of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the United States and Canada. 2 vols. New York: H. W. Wilson Company, 1935, p. 76, no. 46. Walters Art Gallery. Illuminated Books of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Baltimore: Trustees of the Walters Art Gallery, 1949, no. 45. Diringer, David. The Illuminated Book, Its History and Production. New York: Philosophical Library, 1958, p. 384. Walters Art Gallery. 2,000 Years of Calligraphy. Totowa, NJ: Rowman and Littlefield, 1965, no. 25. Daneu Lattanzi, Angela. Lineamenti di storia della miniatura in Sicilia. Florence: L.S. Olschki, 1966, pp. 102-103. Berkowitz, David. In Remembrance of Creation: Evolution of Art and Scholarship in the Medieval and Renaissance
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Bible. Waltham, MA: Brandeis University Press, 1968, p. 41, no. 70. Bologna, Ferdinando. I pittori alla corte angioina di Napoli, 1266-1414, e un riesame dell’arte nell’età fridericiana. Rome: U. Bozzi, 1969, pl. I-22. Sandler, Lucy Freeman. The Psalter of Robert de Lisle in the British Library. New York: Oxford University Press, 1983. Sandler, Lucy Freeman. Gothic Manuscripts, 1285-1385. 2 vols. New York: Oxford University Press, 1986, p. 73, no. 18. Chihaia, Pavel. Immortalité et Décomposition dans l’art du Moyen Age. Madrid: Fondation Culturelle Roumaine, 1988, fig. 12, fols. 1-2. Ormrod, W.M, and Phillip Lindley, eds. The Black Death in England, 1348-1500. Stamford, CT: Paul Watkins, 1996, fol. 2. Contributors
Principal catalogers: Noel, William; Smith, Kathryn Cataloger: Walters Art Museum curatorial staff and researchers since 1934 Editors: Herbert, Lynley; Noel, William Copy editor: Dibble, Charles Conservators: Owen, Linda; Quandt, Abigail Contributors: Bockrath, Diane; Emery, Doug; Noel, William; Tabritha, Ariel; Toth, Michael B.
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This document is a digital facsimile of selections from a manuscript belonging to the Walters Art Museum, in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. It is one of a number of manuscripts that have been digitized as part of a project generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities, and by an anonymous donor to the Walters Art Museum. More details about the manuscripts at the Walters can be found by visiting The Walters Art Museum's website www.thewalters.org. For further information about this book, and online resources for Walters manuscripts, please contact us through the Walters Website by email, and ask for your message to be directed to the Department of Manuscripts.
The Walters Art Museum 600 N. Charles Street Baltimore, Maryland 21201 http://www.thewalters.org/
Released under a Creative Commons AttributionNonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/legalcode Published 2013