Martyrology, in Latin, portions of three leaves from a manuscript on vellum

Estimate

3,000 - 5,000 GBP

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Description

3 fragments from a single manuscript, double column, 45 lines, written-space 317mm. by 210mm., written in a late Carolingian minuscule, (a) 263mm. by 305mm., 31 lines here, end of an account of Saint Sebastian, opening of Saint Theodore Tiro, very large initial ‘T’ (“Temporibus …”), 100mm. by 100mm., in panels of coloured interlace outlined in red and yellow, first letters of text in red capitals; (b) 292mm. by 96mm., 38 lines here, recto, end of Saint Antoninus, opening of Saint Saturninus, very large initial ‘S’ (“Si verum …”), 89mm. by 50mm., similar style, verso, opening of Saint Felicitas, very large initial ‘T’ (“Temporibus …”), 70mm. by 80mm., similar style, initial partly cut away; and (c) 445mm. by 305mm., a full leaf, end of Saint Vincent, opening of Saint Severus, very large initial ‘T’ (“Temporibus …”), 98mm. by 95mm., similar style; all recovered from use in a binding and consequently worn and very defective, the first with a sixteenth-century inscription, in a blue cloth folder, black morocco title label gilt

Catalogue Note

Boehlen Collection, MS.1118 A-C ES. These are pieces from a large and very fine central Italian romanesque martyrology, with four monumental initials, close in style to nos.61-2 in F. Avril and Y. Za³uska, Manuscrits enluminés d’origine italienne, I, 1980, from the beginning of the twelfth century. Similar manuscripts were made at the great abbey of Santa Cecilia in Rome.