Manuscript on parchment (thick), composed of two distinct parts, of 1) Calendar-obituary giving the names of nuns, lay sisters, and benefactors of the Benedictine abbey of Notre-Dame de Saintes in Charente Inferieure in Southwestern France. The main body of this section dates from the fourteenth century, but was still being supplemented in the sixteenth century. 2) A version of the Usuard Martyrology; the body of the text written in the 12th century. 3) Rule of St. Benedict, feminine version
Description:
In Latin., Script: Part I (ff. 1-46): Written in a variety of scripts ranging from gothic bookhand to batarde. Part II (ff. 47-168): Written in elegant late caroline/early gothic bookhand., Part I: Initials, dates and headings in red. Part II: Two decorated initials, ff. 47r and 129r, 6-line, in red, green and blue. Decorative headings in brown ink touched with red and green, or red touched with blue. Small initials, 4- to 1-line in red, some with foliage scrolls in red or contrasting color. Headings in red., First part of the manuscript has been extensively patched and repaired., and Binding: Fifteenth century (?), France. An early resewing on three double, twisted, tawed skin supports laced into wide grooves in oak boards and pegged with rectangular or square pegs. Covered in brown sheepskin with corner tongues, blind-tooled with diagonals in an outer frame. Spine leather wanting. Leather on boards much worn.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Benedictines.
Subject (Topic):
Benedictine nuns, Christian martyrs, Manuscripts, Medieval, and Monasticism and religious orders
Stand-alone miniature on paper depicting a Benedictine nun kneeling before Christ and the instruments of the Passion. Banderoles containing devotional phrases extend from the mouths of the nun and Christ; an excerpt from Psalm 31 (Vulgate) is written at the bottom of the miniature
Description:
In Latin., Script: banderole text in a small Gothic bookhand., Decoration: an example of the simple illustration style known as "nonnenarbeiten," which are devotional images produced by medieval nuns for personal use. The nun and Christ are placed in a grassy field comprised of penstrokes covered with a green wash. Details like Christ's wounds are conveyed through penstrokes as well. The instruments of the Passion are individually colored with wash: red and black for the cock, orange for the sponge, and orange for parts of the spear. An alternating blue and orange wash has been used to decorate the border of the miniature., and Binding: individually mounted on parchment.
Subject (Geographic):
Connecticut and New Haven.
Subject (Name):
Benediktinerinnenabtei St. Walburg (Eichstätt, Germany)
Subject (Topic):
Manuscripts, Medieval, Benedictine nuns, Nuns as artists, Devotional objects, and Catholic Church
