Psalter-Hours, Use of Metz, in Latin and French [France (Metz), late 13th and early 14th century]

130x90mm, vellum, 203 leaves, several leaves missing, mostly in the later part running from ff.183-203, in 29 quires of 8 leaves except: i6, ix8-1, xi8-1, xiii4, xix8-2; xxv8-3, xxvi8-4, xxvii8-3, xxviii8-5, xxix4, 20 lines, 83x58mm, 7 LARGER HISTORIATED INITIALS in the 13th-century part, and 5 SMALLER HISTORIATED INITIALS in the 14th-century part, illuminated initials and line-fillers, a few with animals' heads (ff.147v, 151v, 153r), very worn, many initials heavily rubbed, MEDIEVAL BINDING sewn on four double thongs, laced and pegged into wooden boards, preserving fragments of a blind-stamped tanned leather covering, added clasp

PROVENANCE

(1) Made for, and doubtless at, Metz: the calendar has at least a dozen bishops of Metz, including Clement and his translation (23 Nov., 2 May), and Terentius and his translation (29 Oct., 16 May); the litany includes Sts Lupentius and Glodesind; the Hours of the Virgin and Office of the Dead are both of the Use of Metz. (2) Owned by a woman with mendicant interests, to judge by added prayers. (3) Several notes added on blank leaves refer to the French Revolution, suggesting that the manuscript may have been seized during this period.

TEXT AND ILLUMINATION

Calendar (f.1r); Psalms (f.7r); Canticles (f.123r); Litany of saints (f.136r); Hours of the Virgin, Use of Metz, with Matins, starting imperfect (f.139r), Lauds (f.143r), Prime (f.147v), Terce (f.150r), Sext (f.151v), None (f.153r), Vespers (f.154v), Compline (f.158r); Office of the Dead (f.160r); Hours of the Virgin, highly imperfect (f.183r); Prayers to Peter of Verona (f.200r), Dominic, Mary Magdalene, using feminine forms (‘... ego miserrima …’).

The subjects of the historiated initials are: (1) f.7r, David harping; (2) f.25r, David pointing to his eyes; (3) f.37r, David pointing to the sky; (4) f.47v; David and the Fool; (5) f.71r, David playing hand-bells; (6) f.97r, Trinity; (7) f.160r, Monks singing; (1) f.185r, Christ before Caiaphas; (2) f.185v, Scourging of Christ; (3) 193v, Christ before Pilate; (4) f.194v, Christ Carrying the Cross; (5) f.195v, Crucifixion.