Details

Subject(s)

• Graduals (Chants)—15th century [Browse]
• Hymns, Latin—15th century [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)—Germany [Browse]
• Manuscripts, Latin (Medieval and modern)—New Jersey—Princeton [Browse]
• Illumination of books and manuscripts [Browse]

Former owner

• Gélis-Didot, P. (Pierre), 1853- [Browse]
• Van Antwerp, William C. (William Clarkson), 1867-1938 [Browse]
• Kane, Grenville, 1854-1943 [Browse]

Related name

Princeton University. Library. Manuscript. Kane MS. 11. [Browse]

Library of Congress genre(s)

• Hymnals [Browse]

Notes

• A leaf from a Gradual, with texts for Christmas Day. Includes the Gradual for the first Mass of Christmas (“[Benedictus qui uenit in nomine domini] deus dominus... [verse] A domino factum est ... Alleluia [verse] Dominus regnauit ...”), Offertory (“Deus enim firmauit orbem ...”), and Communion (“Exulta filia syon”), and for the second Mass the Introit, “Puer natus est nobis.”
• Script: written in Textualis quadrata, with square notation including clef and custos.
• Decoration: On the recto are two black calligraphic strapwork initials with black filigree. On the verso is an historiated initial P; vignette in lower margin; left and right margins filled with half-figures of saints, birds, and flowers. Verso, Christmas Day, Second Mass Introit, initial P, Nativity of Christ: Virgin Mary and two angels kneel before the Christ Child; Joseph the Carpenter holds a candle in a shed with ox and ass; Star of Bethlehem above. In the lower margin a vignette of St. Augustine and the Miracle of the Trinity: St. Augustine in bishop's vestments extends hand toward nude Christ child, who sits on the ground and empties water from a ladle into a hole in the ground. To the left, St. Augustine, as a youth (represented twice), approaches a rocky crag on which there are two birds and a lizard, and again with mantle cast on ground kneels beside a stream between two hills. In the landscape are two stags, two rabbits, a squirrel, a blue bird, and cities. In the left margin, the Apostle Andrew with a cross saltire; an angel playing a viol; Agnes of Rome, crowned and holding palm, with lamb seated on her garment; and a female donor, in wimpled headdress and black garment, kneels with a rosary. In the right margin, an Augustinian nun kneeling and a peacock. Left and right margins are decorated with foliate borders with birds and flowers. Two black pen-flourished initials with red highlighting for minor initials.

Binding note

One parchment leaf, now enclosed in a frame.

Provenance

Kane MS. 11 was in the collection of the Parisian artist Pierre Henri Gélis-Didot (b. 1853), sold on 12-13 April 1897. The leaf was acquired by the Parisian bookseller Librairie Théophile Belin, probably for Robert Forrer (1868-1927), of Strassburg. It was later in the collection of William Clarkson Van Antwerp (1867-1938), of California, until sold at the Van Antwerp sale by the American Art Association, New York on 1 May 1922. The leaf was acquired by Grenville Kane (1854-1943), of Tuxedo Park, N.Y. The Kane Collection was acquired by the Princeton University Library from Kane's heirs in February 1946.

References

Medieval & Renaissance manuscripts in the Princeton University Library, volume 2, page 18-19.

Cite as

Kane MS. 11, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

OCLC

1101123475

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