Manuscript on parchment. Formerly known as the "Fouquet Missal", based on the mistaken attribution of the illumination to Fouquet
Description:
In French., Script: Written by a single scribe in formal gothic bookhand., A richly decorated manuscript with an unusual and elaborate program of miniatures by at least four artists: the Master of the Vienna Mamerot, Jean Colombe, a hand close to the Masters of Morgan 96 and 366, and a fourth artist whose hand has not yet been identified in other manuscripts. Each large miniature (107 total) has a full border incorporating four marginal scenes (428 in all) with subjects which either amplify or follow closely from the action of the miniature, disposed with two rectangular scenes in the outer border and two roundels in the lower border. The subsidiary miniatures, framed in red, are surrounded by blue and gold acanthus, flowering vines in green, blue and red, ivy in black pen with gold dots, large, naturalistic flowers, and black hair-spray with gold dots. The borders are framed on the outer edges with a red bounding line, on the inner edges with a red or gold bounding line., 4- and 2-line initials throughout, shaded pink or blue with gold foliate decoration against blue or pink grounds with pink or blue curling leaves, heightened in gold. 1-line initials, gold, against pink or blue grounds with gold filigree. On ff. 6r-13v the 4- and 2-line initials, as well as line-fillers in the same manner, are painted over blue or red initials with red or blue penwork and line fillers in red, blue and gold. The overpainting of this archaizing decoration reflects a change in decorative scheme rather than an interval of three-quarters of a century between the writing and the illumination of the manuscript. Rubrics and some underlining in red throughout., and Binding: Nineteenth century. Quarter bound in brown goatskin. Blue/green cloth sides with silver fastenings and fittings. On fastenings small roundels with portraits of the evangelists; on clasp a roundel with Annunciation. Numerous Turk's head place-marks on fore edge. Earlier covers, 17th century, mounted inside boards.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Catholic Church
Subject (Topic):
Liturgy, Illumination of books and manuscripts, Medieval, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Missals
