Office of the Dead
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Matins. (Recto). Unidentified Nocturne, possibly First. (Officium Pro Defunctis ad Matutinum). Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th Century. Medieval manuscript leaf recto, parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; decorative elements include a border panel with acanthus leaf, flowers, and fruit (strawberries). The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling, single column. The recto contains seven notable illuminated initials, one of which is a 2-line initial "U."
Text includes Psalm 6:10-11, parts of Psalm 6, “Requiem” rubrics and Antiphons, and Psalm 12:1-5. All scripture is from St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible translation. The scriptural contents for these pages differs from usual French usage, but the sequencing of Psalms on the recto, and Job on the verso, lead to the conclusion that this is likely a text for Matins, First Nocturne, rather than Second or Third Nocturne.
Incipit: [Ex]audivit Dominus deprecationem meam ... [Psalm 6:10]
Explicit: ... Qui tribulant me exultabunt [Psalm 12:5 Vulgate]
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Matins. (Verso). Unidentified Nocturne, possibly First. (Officium Pro Defunctis ad Matutinum). Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th Century. Medieval manuscript leaf verso, parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; decorative elements include a border panel with acanthus leaf and flowers. The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling, single column. The verso contains three notable illuminated initials, one of which is a 2-line initial "M."
Text includes Psalm 12:5-6; “Requiem” rubrics, Antiphons, and abbreviated Pater Noster; and Job 7:1-4. All scripture is from St. Jerome’s Latin Vulgate Bible translation. The scriptural contents for these pages differs from usual French usage, but the sequencing of Psalms on the recto, and Job on the verso, lead to the conclusion that this is likely a text for Matins, First Nocturne, rather than Second or Third Nocturne.
Mounting tape on the verso is characteristic of items once contained in manuscript leaf portfolios assembled by Otto Ege before his death in 1951.
Incipit: si motus fuero ego autem in misericordia ... [Psalm 12:5]
Explicit: ... [ves]peram et replebor doloribus usque ad [...] [Job 7:4]
This leaf includes text from the Office of the Dead at Matins, 1st Nocturne. The presence of verses from Job indicate that the leaf falls during the Office of the Dead at Matins, and the fact that the 2nd and 3rd lessons are clearly indicated (with rubricated text) shows that it's during the 1st Nocturne. The text starts on the recto in the middle of the 1st lesson, which is from Job 7:4-7 and is followed by a versicle and response. It then continues with the 2nd lesson from Job 10:8-12, which is also followed by the vesicle and response. The text continues onto the verso during the 2nd lesson. The verso text ends in the middle of the 3rd lesson, which is from Job 10:14-15.
Incipit: tenebras. Induta est caro mea...
Explicit: ...praecipitas. Me memento quaeso
This leaf includes text from the Office of the Dead at Matins, 1st Nocturne. The presence of verses from Job indicate that the leaf falls during the Office of the Dead at Matins, and the fact that the 2nd and 3rd lessons are clearly indicated (with rubricated text) shows that it's during the 1st Nocturne. The text starts on the recto in the middle of the 1st lesson, which is from Job 7:4-7 and is followed by a versicle and response. It then continues with the 2nd lesson from Job 10:8-12, which is also followed by the vesicle and response. The text continues onto the verso during the 2nd lesson. The verso text ends in the middle of the 3rd lesson, which is from Job 10:14-15.
Incipit: quod sicut lutum feceris me et in...
Explicit: ...saturatus adflictione et miseria.
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Matins Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th century. Medieval manuscript leaf (verso), parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and eight notable illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; decorative elements include acanthus leaf and flowers. The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling.
What is a bit difficult to understand is the text directly following Job 10:20. It looks as though it is menation god and the emortal man, though the latin is a bit tricky to translate. It is not the typical versicle and response. This text is the end of first nocturne, and that the verso is Psalm 22, the start of the second nocturne, it looks as though the end of the page is the close of the paryer.
Incipit: et propter superbiam quasi leaenam capies (Job 10:16)
explicit: Et misericordia tua subsequitur me omnibus (Middle of Psalm 22)
The leaf is part of the Office of the Dead at Matins (Second Nocturne) of a Book of Hours, being found to have originated in Holland (The Netherlands) in the late 15th century (1485-1500). The leaf contains 20 lines in what seems to be Italian Gothic Rotunda script on the verso and recto. It also contains illuminated initials and illuminated decoration near the margin (which includes flowers and their stems along with acanthus leaves colored blue and red). The overall condition is poorer due to hair follicles sprouting upward and what seems to be tape residue.
The text on the recto contains the last lines of Psalm 22 and also contains rubrication. The text moves onto Psalm 24 which carries on over to the verso.
Incipit: vitae meae
Explicit: ne memineris se
The text on the verso contains Psalm 24 and carries it on over into the next leaf and at the end of this verso the Psalm does not finish.
Incipit: [from se]cundum misericordiam tuam memento
Explicit: Respice in me, et miserere mei
Book of Hours, Office of the Dead, Matins, Second Nocturne (Recto).
This leaf begins with the final verse of the fourth lectionary reading (Job 14:6). It continues with the fourth responsory/versicle pair (Psalm 73:19/Psalm 88:48), and concludes with the beginning of the fifth lectionary reading (Job 14:7-11).
Incipit: ...Recede ergo paululu[m]
Explicit: recedant aquae de...
The lectionary readings and reponses on this leaf deviate from the standard Office of the Dead. Knud Ottosen identifies this specific set of readings as those used in Châlons-sur-Marne, France. The script and border decoration date the leaf to the late 15th century.
Book of Hours, Office of the Dead, Matins, Second Nocturne (Verso).
This leaf begins with the second half of the fifth lectionary reading (Job 14:11-12). It continues with the fifth responsory/versicle pair (Psalm 102:14-15/Psalm 110:4), and concludes with the beginning of the sixth lectionary reading (Job 14:13-14). The rubrication before the fifth responsory is incorrect. The scribe has written a "V" where s/he should have written an "R."
Incipit: ...mari et fluuius
Explicit: donec veniat i[m]mutatio...
The lectionary readings and reponses on this leaf deviate from the standard Office of the Dead. Knud Ottosen identifies this specific set of readings as those used in Châlons-sur-Marne, France. The script and border decoration date the leaf to the late 15th century.
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Lauds. (Recto). (Officium Pro Defunctis ad Lauds). Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th century. Medieval manuscript leaf (recto), parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and eight notable illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; decorative elements include acanthus leaf, flowers, and fruit. The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling. Text includes parts of Psalm 64:5-11.
Incipit: Beatus quem elegisti et adsump[sisti] ... [Psalm 64:5 Vulgate]
Explicit: ... [stil]licidiis eius laetabitur germinans
Mounting tape on the recto is characteristic of items once contained in manuscript leaf portfolios assembled by Otto Ege before his death in 1951.
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Lauds. (Verso). (Officium Pro Defunctis ad Lauds). Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th century. Medieval manuscript leaf (verso), parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and eight notable illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; decorative elements include acanthus leaf and flowers. The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling. Text includes parts of Psalm 64 (verses 12-14) from the Latin Vulgate Bible, Requiem rubrics and Antiphons (abbreviated rubrics in red), and parts of Psalm 62 (verses 1-5 partial).
Incipit: Benedices coronae anni ben[gnitati]... [Psalm 64:12 Vulgate]
Explicit: ... cam te in vita mea et in nomine [Psalm 62:5 Vulgate]
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Lauds. 15th century, France or Netherlands. Illuminated borders with flowers and leaves. Some initials are rubricated in red, gold, and blue. The text is a gothic rotunda. Prickings are visible on the outer edge and as well as rulings dividing the page into 20 lines.
This page contains the continuation of psalm 62 (Incipet: "tuo levabo manus mea") and the beginning of psalm 66 (Explicit: "et misereatur nostri").
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Lauds. 15th century, France or Netherlands. Illuminated borders with flowers and leaves. Some initials are rubricated in red, gold, and blue. The text is a gothic rotunda. Prickings are visible on the outer edge and as well as rulings dividing the page into 20 lines.
This page contains the continuation of psalm 66 (Incipet: "Ut cognoscamus in terra") and the Isaiah 38:10-11 (Explicit: "viventium non aspiciam").
Book of Hours, Office for the Dead, at Lauds (Officium pro Defunctis, ad Laudes). Northern France or the Netherlands, late 15th Century. Medieval manuscript leaf, parchment, containing text and decoration, including illuminated, foliated panels and illuminated initials. Gold illumination on decorative elements; floral decorative elements include acanthus, blue flowers, and red flowers. The script is a Gothic textura with slightly diamond minims, 20 lines to the page with ink ruling; there are eight notable illuminated initials throughout the text, with two 2-line initials. Red rubrication is in bold red ink. There is a scribal error instance of dittography/metathesis at Line 8, where the scribe has added the word “magnitudinem” between the words “multitudinem” and “magnitudinis.” Text contains a portion of Psalm 149; “Requiem,” antiphons and versicles; Psalm 150; and the opening of the canticle of Zachariah (Luke 1:68). All scripture is in Jerome's Latin Vulgate translation. This image is from the State University of New York Stony Brook Otto F. Ege portfolio; the university holds Set 19 in Special Collections. An image of the other side of this folio is not currently available.
Incipit: [compedib]us et nobiles eorum in manicis ferreis ...
Explicit: ... quia visitavit et fecit rede[mptionem]
The leaf is part of the Office of the Dead at Vespers of a Book of Hours, originating in France in the late 15th Century. The leaf includes 20 lines of text in Gothic script on the recto and verso, illuminated initials, and illuminated decoration in the margin, including acanthus leaves and flowers.
The text on the recto of the leaf begins in the middle of Pslam 129 and is followed by antiphons. The text moves onto Psalm 137 which concludes on the verso of the leaf.
Incipit:legem tuam sustinui te Domine
Explicit: In quacumque die invocave[ro]
The text on the verso includes the ending of Psalm 137, antiphons, and a responsary following Psalm 137. The text ends with the beginning of The Song of the Blessed Virgin Mary, taken from Luke’s Gospel (1:46-55).
Incipit:ro te exaudi me multiplicabis
Explicit:Dominum et exultavit spiritus
(spiritus is written in an abbreviated form)