A Large 12th Century Leaf Done in a Graceful, Majestic Scribal Hand

TEXT FROM ADVENT.

A VELLUM MANUSCRIPT LEAF FROM A LECTIONARY IN LATIN.

(Austria (Salzburg): second half of 12th century). Unevenly trimmed, but approximately 362 x 234 mm. (14 1/4 x 9 1/8"). Double column, 31 extant lines, in a lovely proto-gothic hand.

Rubrics in red, remains of two large multi-line initials in red. Lower margin of recto with modern note in red ink in very small letters identifying the text. Recovered from a binding and thus unevenly trimmed (top margin and a small part of text trimmed away at the top), a handful of tiny cuts and holes of no significance, vellum a little brownish, but the leaf rather smooth, and the majestic text entirely legible.

This lectionary fragment, which contains two important patristic sermons for the season of Advent, demonstrates a highly regular, graceful, and majestic proto-gothic book hand. The oval-shaped elongation of Caroline letter forms characteristic of 12th century book hands and the mixture of rustic and uncial capitals our scribe has used for section titles appear particularly pleasing in the lovely, uncramped hand at work here. The text on the recto is from St. Augustine's second Advent sermon, one of a series of homilies written for the liturgical seasons. The verso contains St. Gregory's homily for the first Sunday of Advent, preceded by Luke 21:25-33, a rehearsal of the signs of the end of days. The homily draws on this gospel passage to exhort the faithful to prepare themselves for the second coming. The present leaf almost certainly belonged to a Lectionary owned by a Romanesque church in Salzburg, a manuscript that was later dismembered for use in bookbinding. According to the source from which we purchased this leaf, it was shown in 1893 to Willibald Hauthaler (1843-1922), the Medieval historian (and later the Abbot of St. Peter's, Salzburg), who wrote the identification along the lower edge. It was later owned by the Salzburg-based merchant, artist, and collector Carl von Frey (1826-96). It appeared at Christie's in 2010 where (along with five sister leaves) it sold for £13,970. (ST20617e)

Price: $2,500.00