GB 0096 MS 620 - Psalter miniatures

Identity area

Reference code

GB 0096 MS 620

Title

Psalter miniatures

Date(s)

  • 1225-1250 (Creation)

Level of description

Extent and medium

11 miniatures, 1 volume and photographs

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

A medieval psalter usually comprised a Calendar, the 150 Psalms, and a collection of canticles and creeds. The three text-types worked together in the practice of the Divine Office, the Church's daily public prayer. When a psalter-book was intended for private use as well, other texts, such as prologues, hymns, or favourite prayers were added. The psalter from which the miniatures were taken was probably made in the Ile de France in 1225-1250; the style is similar to that found in the miniatures of the Missal of St Corneille, Compiegne (held at the Bibliotheques Nationales, Paris, as Ms Latin 17318).

Archival history

The miniatures were originally pasted into a late 19th century edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern when the volume was purchased by the University of London Library in 1964.
GB 0096 MS 620 1225-1250 Collection (fonds) 11 miniatures, 1 volume and photographs Unknown
A medieval psalter usually comprised a Calendar, the 150 Psalms, and a collection of canticles and creeds. The three text-types worked together in the practice of the Divine Office, the Church's daily public prayer. When a psalter-book was intended for private use as well, other texts, such as prologues, hymns, or favourite prayers were added. The psalter from which the miniatures were taken was probably made in the Ile de France in 1225-1250; the style is similar to that found in the miniatures of the Missal of St Corneille, Compiegne (held at the Bibliotheques Nationales, Paris, as Ms Latin 17318).

The miniatures were originally pasted into a late 19th century edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern when the volume was purchased by the University of London Library in 1964.

The volume was bought from Holleyman & Treacher in 1964.

Eleven miniatures, probably cut from the first leaves of a psalter, illustrating scenes from the life of Christ. The subject of each is as follows: Annunciation, Nativity, Annunciation to the Shepherds, Adoration of the Magi, the Last Supper, Flagellation of Christ, Christ Crucified, Women at the Sepulchre, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Death of the Virgin.

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.
English
The first 10 miniatures measure 60 x 38mm; the eleventh 48 x 38mm. The verso of each fragment is blank. Gilded ground, painting in brown, light and dark grey, matt red, orange-red, blue and white.

See R. Watson 'Descriptive lists of fragments of medieval manuscripts in the University of London Library' (1976).

F. Wormald, 'Some leaves from a thirteenth-century illuminated manuscript in the University of London Library', Librarianship and Literature; Essays in Honour of Jack Pafford (London, 1970).

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project. Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997. Oct 2001 Documents Europe France Illuminated manuscripts Information sources Manuscripts Psalters Religious doctrines Religious texts Theology Western Europe

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

The volume was bought from Holleyman & Treacher in 1964.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Eleven miniatures, probably cut from the first leaves of a psalter, illustrating scenes from the life of Christ. The subject of each is as follows: Annunciation, Nativity, Annunciation to the Shepherds, Adoration of the Magi, the Last Supper, Flagellation of Christ, Christ Crucified, Women at the Sepulchre, Ascension, Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and Death of the Virgin.

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Conditions governing reproduction

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

  • Latin

Language and script notes

English

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

See R. Watson 'Descriptive lists of fragments of medieval manuscripts in the University of London Library' (1976).

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Related descriptions

Publication note

Notes area

Note

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

Institution identifier

Senate House Library, University of London

Rules and/or conventions used

Compiled in compliance with General International Standard Archival Description, ISAD(G), second edition, 2000; National Council on Archives Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names, 1997.

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

Language(s)

  • English

Script(s)

    Sources

    Accession area