Ordo for the Consecration of Virgins at San Pier Maggiore, Florence, in Latin [Italy (Florence), 15th century]

257×180mm, vellum, i+15+i leaves, COMPLETE, collation: i8, ii8-1 (last blank cancelled), catchword, 20 lines, 163×117mm, music on four-line red staves, rastrum 18mm, OPENING WITH AN ILLUMINATED INITIAL AND A FULL FOLIATE BORDER, the roundel in the lower border with a Virgin and Child probably overpainted in the 19th century, flourished initials throughout, numerous signs of use, including rubbing of text and the re-writing of musical notes in the 17th century, CONTEMPORARY BINDING of blind-stamped brown leather over wooden boards, each cover with four bosses, two clasps, one catch missing, somewhat scuffed and worn, but generally intact

 

PROVENANCE

THE BENEDICTINE NUNNERY OF SAN PIER MAGGIORE, FLORENCE: the religious order, city, and church in which this book was to be used are named on the verso of the first leaf: ‘... secundum regulam sanctissimi Benedicti in hoc monasterio quod est constructum in honorem beatissimi apostoli Petri maioris … domini .N. dei gratia episcopi Florentini, et domine .N. abbatisse et aliarum sororum …’ (f.1v). Founded in the 11th century as a Benedictine convent, and with a new church built in the mid-14th century, San Pier Maggiore was one of Florence’s oldest, wealthiest, and most important churches in the Middle Ages. Among the artists buried here were Lorenzo di Credi, Luca della Robbia, and Piero di Cosimo.

TEXT

‘Ordo ad consecrandum virginum …’ (f.1r), including the virgins’ declaration ‘Ego soror .N. promicto stabilitatem meam et conversionem morum meorum …’ (f.1v), followed by benedictions, noted chant, a litany (f.5r), the consecration itself (f.7v), and a mass; rubrics require that most of the actions are performed by the bishop, with occasional participation of deacons.