Book of Hours, Use of Rome — 1527–28; Polish, Cracow
MS. Douce 40
Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Description
From Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries.
Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries contains descriptions of all known Western medieval manuscripts held in the Bodleian Libraries, and of medieval manuscripts in selected Oxford colleges. Learn more.
Title
Book of Hours, Use of Rome — 1527–28; Polish, Cracow
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 40
Date
1527–28
Language
Latin
Italian
Contents
Form
codex
Support
parchment
Physical extent
i + 2 + 256 + 2 fol.
Hands
Written in humanistica textualis, perhaps by the artist Stanislas Mogila.
Decoration
Important miniatures.
Important borders.
Important initials.
Headings in gold.
Binding
Blue velvet, probably for Douce.
Acquisition
Bequeathed by him to the Bodleian in 1834.
Provenance
Written for Bona Sforza, princess of Bari, who is mentioned in a prayer on fol. 249 and who was the wife of Sigismund I of Poland; arms of Poland and the Visconti in many borders; cf. London, B.L. Additional MS. 15281, a companion volume made by Mogila for king Sigismund in 1524.
Dates 'Anno MDXXVII', fol. 36v, 'MDXXVII', fol. 74v, 'MDXXVIII', fol. 229v.
Francis Douce: perhaps acquired in April 1824.
View full record in Medieval manuscripts in Oxford libraries
From Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
This is an extract only. For more information, see the catalogue record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts.
Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts contains descriptions of the Bodleian Libraries’ archival collections, including post-1500 manuscripts. Some manuscripts with records in other catalogues are also described here as part of a description of a larger archive. Learn more.
Title
Book of Hours, Use of Rome (Hours of Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland)
Shelfmark
MS. Douce 40
Summary
'Officium beate Marie Virginis secundum consuetudinem Romane Curie', preceded by a calendar (fol. 1), and Capitula from the Gospels (fol. 13).
Followed by:
(fol. 114) a 'Missa sancte Marie'
(fol. 123) 'Septem Psalmi Penitenciales' with litany
(fol. 151) 'Officium Mortuorum'
(fol. 198) 'Officium sancte Crucis
(fol. 203v) 'Officium sacratissime Passionis ...'
(fol. 230) 'Officium Sancti Spiritus'
a few prayers, one in Italian
There are many very fine miniatures, capitals, borders, etc., which are described in Waagen's Art Treasures in Great Britain (1854), iii. 102, and J. W. Bradley's Dict. of Miniaturists (1887), i. 207.
See also H. Shaw's Illuminated Ornaments (1833), no.xxxviii.
The miniatures are stated to be in the style of the Glockendons of Nuremberg, while the borders may have been executed at Milan, showing a mixture of Italian and Netherlandish styles. On one miniature (fol. 36av) 's. c. f. Ao mdxxvii', the date being repeated on fol. 74v, and mdxxviii on fol. 229av.
The book was written and painted for Bona (Sforza) wife of Sigismund I, king of Poland (married 1518, but some of the prayers belong in contents to an earlier year than 1527-8 (see fols. 144, 251v): 'Bona' is in a prayer on fol. 249: the arms of Poland and Sforza-Visconti are in many places, and combined on fol. 36av. 'S.B.R.P.' and 'S.S.R.P.'are on fols. 20av, 37, 229av, (presumably 'Scutum Bonae (or Sigismundi) reg. Poloniae'), and once with the motto 'Cetera parvi.'.
Date
written in or shortly before 1527-1528, in Italy
Language
Latin
Physical facet
With many very fine miniatures, capitals, borders, etc., binding: blue velvet
Physical extent
271 Leaves
View full record in Bodleian Archives & Manuscripts
Collection contents
Book of Hours, Use of Rome (Hours of Bona Sforza, Queen of Poland)
