Gospel lectionary — c. 800; Multiple places of origin

Title

Gospel lectionary — c. 800; Multiple places of origin

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 176

Place of origin

ivory, Germany, probably Aachen

France, Chelles, Benedictine nunnery

Date

c. 800

Language

Latin

Contents

Form

codex

Support

parchment

Physical extent

ii + 127 + ii fol.

Decoration

Fol. lv and 62 (Easter), elaborate zoomorphic capitals. Ornamentation mainly in green and stone red; in the titles of the gospels the colours alternate for words and parts of words.

Binding

French binding of 18th-century leather, with inset ivory (so-called 'Ada school', 212 × 125 mm., c. 800). Central panel, Christ trampling on a lion and serpent; framed with smaller scenes from the life of Christ (see Kahsnitz 1999). 'It is not certain ... whether [the ivory] formed part of the original binding' (Douce Legacy), although the balance of scholarly opinion is probably that manuscript and ivory were associated from the outset, with the ivory being a gift to Gisla (Gisela), abbess of Chelles and sister of Charlemagne.

Acquisition

Bequeathed by him to the Bodleian in 1834.

Provenance

The attribution to Chelles was made by Bischoff in 1957 ('Die Kölner Nonnenhandschriften und das Scriptorium von Chelles', repr. in his Mittelalterliche Studien (1966), I.16-34, this ms. at 21, 23-4), followed by all subsequent scholarship.

St Faron, Meaux, according to an 18th century note signed 'Gosselin'(fol. 1)

Bought by Payne of London on 27 May 1833 at the sale of m. Abel Remusat (lot 8).

Francis Douce, acquired by November 1833 (Douce Legacy, no. 39), bought from Payne. Price, £31 10s., fol. iv recto.

Title

295 lections from the Gospels for festivals

Shelfmark

MS. Douce 176

Summary

'Incipit Euangelium de circulo anni', 295 lections from the Gospels for festivals, with one added later at end: beginning with Christmas Day: at fol. 121 is 'Incipῖ lectio** Euang** de diuef** causis', for special occasions; such as rain, the birthday of a pope, etc. At fol. 1v (Christmas) and 62 (Easter) are elaborate letters formed of fishes, birds, and beasts, composing the rubric: many smaller capitals are of yellow, edged with red: green is commonly used, alternating with red, for words and parts of words in the rubrics. Fols. 1 - 2 are slightly imperfect. Into the front outer cover is let an ivory plate carved in thirteen compartments illustrating the life of Christ, 8 5/16 × 4 15/16 in., perhaps of the 10th cent. See Waagen's Treasures of Art (1854), iii. 104, Salt Brassington's Bodleian bindings, plate 1, & reff. there.

Date

written not later than the early part of the 10th cent. in France (?)

Language

Latin

Physical facet

On parchment, illuminated, binding: red leather, 18th cent.

Physical extent

129 Leaves

Custodial history

'Ce livre, avant la Révolution, appartenoit à l'abbaye de St. Faron, située près de Meaux. Gosselin.' On May 27, 1833, Payne, the London bookseller, bought the book at m. Abel Remusat's sale.