Pontifical, Use of Rome, in Latin, illuminated manuscript on vellum

Estimate

7,000 - 10,000 GBP

bidding is closed

Description

88 leaves (3 blank), plus 6 original flyleaves, 324mm. by 225mm., complete, collation: i-viii^{10, ix^{8, with horizontal catchwords, double column, 23 lines, ruled in plummet, written-space 200mm. by 147mm., written in dark brown ink in a large and skilful rounded gothic liturgical hand, rubrics in bright red, one- and 2-line initials throughout in alternately red and blue,}} nineteen very large illuminated initials, 5 lines high (mostly c.42mm. by 45mm.) in lush coloured leafy designs with delicate white tracery and heightening on highly burnished gold grounds, mostly with marginal extensions and large burnished gold bezants within radiating black penwork, opening page with a large illuminated coat-of-arms surmounted by a crozier and within an elaborate illuminated cartouche with coloured leafy surround, a few medieval alterations to the text, occasional minor stains and marks, generally in excellent condition, contemporary binding of square-edged wooden boards sewn onto 4 thongs, cover with orange-brown leather, marks from 5 bosses once on each cover and of 4 pairs of clasps and catches of green textile once secured by metal foliate pins, binding a bit scuffed but sound, skilful repairs, in a fitted blue cloth case, brown morocco title label gilt

Provenance

provenance

(1) The manuscript is signed and dated by the scribe on fol.85v,

“Opus perfeci sub ductu pnematis almi

Johannes Theotunicus. mille quadringentis Pisauri

Cristi post ortum. quibus tris quaterquedenos adde

In ymo annos. vigesimo Iunii nono.

Ad nutum patris Reverendi Pontificisque

Pauli Joannis. tunc Grecie Symflonisensis”.

This seems to mean that the work was completed by the flowing pen of Johannes Theotunicus, Johann the German, in Pesaro in the year 1400 after the birth of Christ, to which add 3 plus 4 times 10 (i.e., 1400 + 3 + 40 = 1443) on 29 June, at the request of the reverend bishop Paolo Giovanni, of Greece, then at Fossombrone (Symphroniensis in Latin: it is near Pesaro). The bishop’s arms are on fol.1r, azure, six 6-pointed stars or, similar to the arms of the Italian families of Fratte (of Verona) and Azzdini (of Rome), but no Italian bishop named Paulus Johannes appears to be recorded in 1443 and the colophon implies that the patron was from Greece. Pesaro is on the Adriatic coast. The likely explanation is that a Greek bishop, attending the Council of Florence, then in session (1438-45), stopped on the route and tactfully and ecumenically commissioned a Roman pontifical while in Italy.

(2) Sold in these rooms, 19 June 1979, lot 62; afterwards Lathrop Harper, cat.237 (1981), no.74, at $28,000; bought by the present owner in 1983.

Catalogue Note

text

A Pontifical is the grandest medieval service book, in that it comprises those offices which can be only be conducted by a bishop, including ordination (fol.2v); the consecration of bishops (fol.19v); the consecration of altars and churches (fol.26v) and the reconciliation of a desecrated church (fol.41r); consecration of a public monument (fol.46r); the blessing of vestments (fol.48v) and other benedictions; the blessing of an abbot (fol.65v) and an abbess (fol.68v); a nuptial Mass (fol.69r); the consecration of a cemetery (fol.71r) and the reconciliation of a desecrated cemetery (fol.77r); the confirmation of children (fol.83r); and the blessing of a foundation stone (fol.84r).