Illuminated manuscripts.
Subject
Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Scope Note: Handwritten manuscripts that have been decorated with gold or silver, brilliant colors, designs, or miniature pictures. Although prevalent in Islamic and Asian societies, the longest tradition of illuminating manuscripts was in Christian medieval Europe, from the 6th-16th centuries, when the art was superseded by printed illustrations. Generally, the manuscripts were both 'historiated', or decorated with relevant paintings, and 'illuminated' in its original sense, meaning decorated with calligraphic initial capital letters using gold leaf. Over time, the term 'illuminated' came to refer to any illustration or decoration in a manuscript. Illuminated manuscripts played a major role in the development of art, partly because of the manuscript's portability in carrying artistic developments from one region to another.
Found in 154 Collections and/or Records:
Microfilm of Psalter of French provenance; and, Book of hours.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.532
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Psalter of French provenance, 2nd half of 15th century, written for a community of Dominican nuns (MS.7122);
Book of hours, 2nd half of 15th century, probably according to the Use of Rome (MS.7124).
Dates:
2nd half of 15th century.
Microfilm of ‘Roman de la Rose’, [circa 1230, circa 1270]; and, ‘The Talbot Hours’, 15th century.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.520
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Manuscript, late 14th or early 15th century, of ‘Roman de la Rose’, written in two stages by Guillaume de Lorris, circa 1230, and Jean de Meun, circa 1270 (Adv.MS.19.1.7);
‘The Talbot Hours’, Psalter and Hours, 15th century (Dep.221/1).
Dates:
[Circa 1230]-15th century.
Microfilm of romance of the lovers Pamphilia and Deiphebo.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.846
Dates:
Early 16th century.
Microfilm of Sermones de Tempore, a homiliary, early 12th century; and, medical manuscripts, 13th century.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.423
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Sermones de Tempore, a homiliary written in the early 12th century for Rochester Cathedral Priory (Adv.MS.18.2.4).
Two English medical manuscripts, each written by two scribes of the thirteenth century, bound together from an early date (Adv.MS.18.2.5).
Dates:
Early 12th century, 13th century.
Microfilm of the Auchinleck manuscript, a compilation of Middle English verse, including romances and religious and historical pieces.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.842
Scope and Contents
A new master negative microfilm.
Dates:
1331-1340.
Microfilm of two calligraphic manuscripts of Esther Inglis.
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.1388
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
‘Vne estreine pour tres illustre et vertueuse dame la Contesse de Bedford’, calligraphic manuscript, 1606, by Esther Inglis (Acc.11624);"Cinquant [sic] Octonaires sur la vanité et inconstance du monde, dediez a tresillustre seigneur le conte de Shrewsbury, pour ses estrennes l'an 1607", being a calligraphic copy of the verses by Antoine de la Roche Chandieu, first published anonymously in ‘Les Cantigues du Seigneur de Maisonfleur’, [1586, or...
Dates:
[1586, or before]-19th century.
Microfilm of works, 17th century, of Esther Inglis and a book of recipes, 1st half of 17th century-1735, 1879, started by Anna, Lady Elcho (died 1649).
Item
Identifier: Mf.Sec.MSS.1052
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
Moral sentences, written as specimens of penmanship, by Esther Inglis, 17th century (MS.2197); Book of recipes, 1st half of 17th century-1735, 1879, started by Anna, Lady Elcho (died 1649), and continued by her daughter Jean, Countess of Sutherland (MS.3031); 'Pseaumes de David. Escrits a Londres par Esther Inglis pour son dernier adieu, ianvier, 1.1615', a calligraphic copy of the Psalms from the Geneva version of 1588, with a...
Dates:
17th century-1735, 1879.
Mid 13th-century Bible, probably written in England.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.7.10
Scope and Contents
(i) The contents are in the order Genesis-Nehemiah, Esther, Tobit, Judith, Job-Matthew, Luke, Mark, John, Acts, Catholic Epistles, Pauline Epistles (with Colossians following 2 Thessalonians), Apocalypse (folio 1). Two leaves containing the end of the general prologue and the prologue to the Pentateuch, and Genesis chapters 24-25 are missing. There are no prologues to 2 Chronicles, Ecclesiastes, Hosea, or the Pauline Epistles from Ephesians to Hebrews. The prologues are the usual set (see...
Dates:
Mid 13th century.
Mid-14th century manuscript of the ‘Roman de la Rose’, written in two stages by Guillaume de Lorris, circa 1230, and Jean de Meun, circa 1270
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.19.1.6
Scope and Contents
The first author, Guillaume de Lorris, wrote, circa 1230, a courtly allegorical poem of about 4000 verses, which sought to be an ‘art of love’, and which was continued, circa 1270, by Jean de Meun, who added about 17000 verses in a very different style and ideological frame. The whole opus is one of the most important literary works of the late Western Middle Ages, its influence upon the world of literature running until late in the Renaissance. This encyclopaedia of love (which also, in the...
Dates:
Mid-14th century.
Miniature from a book of hours painted in the style of Jean Bourdichon.
Item
Identifier: MS.8999
Scope and Contents
The miniature depicts St Luke writing in his study, the walls of which are enriched with coloured marble and Renaissance decoration. The bull, his symbol, appears in the lower right-hand corner. The miniature is in a gold frame, the outer edge of which has been trimmed. Written in red capitals across the bottom of the frame is the text '[I]n illo tempore missus est Angelus Gabri[el]'. The verso contains Luke 1, 26-34 in eighteen lines of littera bastarda. Its left-hand margin has a border...
Dates:
[Circa 1500.]
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh., 13th century-17th century.
Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS.7122-7149
Scope and Contents
From the Series:
In addition to the medieval manuscripts, there are some non-religious books of later date, and a few unrelated fragments.
Dates:
13th century-17th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
Series
Identifier: MSS.7122-7150
Scope and Contents
In addition to the medieval manuscripts, there are some non-religious books of later date, and a few unrelated fragments.
Dates:
13th century-17th century; 1881-1882.
Nasta'līq manuscript, probably eighteenth century, of the history of Kashmir, by Narāyan Kūl, called 'Ājiz, composed AD 1710., 1710.
Item
Identifier: MS.3184
Scope and Contents
Illuminated heading on page 1. The author's name occurs on page 4.
Dates:
1710.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Yule collection, chiefly of Scottish manuscripts of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but including a Book of Hours and some Persian manuscripts.
/
Persian manuscripts, most of which are undated, but seem to be chiefly of the eighteenth century, and to have been acquired in India.
Nasta'līq manuscript, undated, labelled on the outside "Na't wa Munājāt" ('Praise and Prayer')., ?18th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.3185
Scope and Contents
No title or author's name appears in the manuscript itself. At least one leaf seems to be missing between folios 1 and 2, for the catchword does not correspond. Something has apparently been obliterated on folio 1, as have stamp-impressions on folios 1 verso, 115.Introductory portion, in prose and verse, begins at folio 1 verso. A second part (folio 12 verso), all in verse, is divided into sections consisting of prayer and praise, which are followed by 20 religious discourses,...
Dates:
?18th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Yule collection, chiefly of Scottish manuscripts of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, but including a Book of Hours and some Persian manuscripts.
/
Persian manuscripts, most of which are undated, but seem to be chiefly of the eighteenth century, and to have been acquired in India.
Papers of and concerning Phoebe Anna Traquair, artist.
Series
Identifier: MSS.8122-8129
Scope and Contents
As well as Phoebe Anna Traquair's correspondence, the collection comprises mainly photographs and prints depicting her murals, enamel work, illuminations and bindings.
Dates:
1883-1948.
Pauline epistles with gloss, written in France in the 12th century.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.3.7
Scope and Contents
Leaves are missing which contain Romans 1, verso 21 - 3, verse 5, Corinthians I 16, verse 17 - II 1, verse 6, Titus 3, verse 5 - Philemon, verse 4, and Hebrews 10, verse 26 onwards. Some of the prologues are included with the main text, and others with the marginal gloss; a few have been added by another 12th-century hand. There are a number of 12th- and 13th-century annotations. Each Epistle is preceded by a large initial containing foliage and sometimes birds, dragons and human...
Dates:
12th century.
Prayers and devotional exercises., 16th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.7139
Scope and Contents
The text is written in a number of sixteenth-century hands on leaves of paper of various sizes, some of which (folios 98-146 in part, 216-251, and 269-271) have suffered losses to the text when the volume was trimmed.The contents include 'Een regel der zielen leydende toter alder hoechster perfectien der doechden' (folio 1 verso), 'Een schoen exempel van eenen moninck' (folio 93 verso), 'Een suete herdencke op die pasien' (folio 103 verso), prayers to the Virgin and Child...
Dates:
16th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh.
Psalter of Low Countries provenance., ?2nd half of 13th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.7123
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:
(i) Calendar (folio 1);
(ii) Psalter (folio 15);
(iii) Canticles of the Psalter, 'Confitebor' to 'Quicunque vult',and Magnificat (folio 186);
(iv) Capitula and collects for the feast of St Lambert (folio 204). Lacking leaves after folios 91, 104, 203. Red and blue penwork initials. Some names including Saints Dominic and Donatus have been added in a later hand to the calendar; others, including some of the additional names, have been erased. The...
Dates:
?2nd half of 13th century.
Found in:
National Library of Scotland Archives and Manuscripts Division
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh; together with a list of the full collection.
/
Miscellany of medieval manuscripts, chiefly books of hours, which were part of a collection of manuscripts (as well as printed books and paintings) formed by William Finlay Watson, a book-seller in Edinburgh.
Psalter, probably written in the area around Liège in the 14th century
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.8.17
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:(i) Calendar in red and black with solar notations and Easter on 27 March (folio 1). All the entries are among the feasts listed in ‘Gothic manuscript illumination in the diocese of Liège (c.1250-c.1330)’, ii, pages 214-228, except `Inventio sancti dyonisii` (22 April) in red. Saints Agatha, Egidius, Lambert, Remigius and Germanus, and Dyonisius cum sociis suis are also in red, and Saints Emmerentian, Gertrude, Ursmar, Remaclus, Hubert, and the...
Dates:
14th century.
'Pseaumes de David. Escrits a Londres par Esther Inglis pour son dernier adieu, ianvier, 1.1615', a calligraphic copy of the Psalms from the Geneva version of 1588, with a dedication to James VI.
Item
Identifier: MS.8874
Scope and Contents
The title page has an illuminated border of flowers and insects; there is a miniature of David in prayer, and a self-portrait of the scribe (folio 4), and also decorative pen-drawings of foliage.
Dates:
1588.
'Ramsay psalter', written in France in the late 13th century for use at Saint Omer, and then in the possession of the Ramsay family of Colluthie
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.8.8
Scope and Contents
The contents are as follows:(i) Calendar in black and red (folio 1) containing several saints of the Saint Omer region but not the relics of St Maxime at Thérouanne. It includes Saints Silvinus (17 February), Omer (8 June, 9 September, 21 October), Bertin (16 July and 5 September), Francis (4 October) and Folquinus (14 December). Saints Denis and Thomas Becket are in red. Obits have been added in later hands for Robert III, James V and various members of the Ramsay family of...
Dates:
Late 13th century.
Records of Saint Ninian`s Cathedral, Perth; of the diocese of St Andrews, Dunkeld, and Dunblane; and of the Episcopal Church in Scotland.
Fonds
Identifier: Dep.251
Scope and Contents
Also included are papers of clergymen connected with Saint Ninian`s, including sermons, historical and liturgical works by Bishop Charles Wordsworth, Bishop George Howard Wilkinson, Dean George Taylor Shillito Farquar, and Dean James Wilson Harper.
Dates:
1648-20th century.
Romance of the lovers Pamphilia and Deiphebo., Early 16th century.
Item
Identifier: MS.3058
Scope and Contents
The romance begins, 'La antiqua et diu observata consuetudine', and ends, 'Tu adunque Illustrissimo et Magnifico lettore vivi felice: et amia damni pensando habbi alcuna volta compassione: Vale'. The narrative is interspersed with letters, sonnets, and other verse. The manuscript is written in a cursive humanistic script of the early sixteenth century, probably influenced by Ludovico degli Arrighi.The title-page (folio 1) is surrounded by a border divided by gilt...
Dates:
Early 16th century.
'Ruskin Bible'.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.1.1.1
Scope and Contents
The manuscript, written in Northern France, takes its name from John Ruskin who greatly admired it (`The Works of John Ruskin`, edited by E T Cook and A Wedderburn (London, 1903-1912), volume xii, page 144). It is described in the exhibition catalogue `Treasures from Scottish Libraries` (Edinburgh, 1964), number 20.Sir John Sinclair’s `Statistical Account of Scotland, 1791-1799` (Wakefield, 1978), x, page 294 refers to a note with the manuscript which stated that it was used ‘in...
Dates:
2nd half of 13th century.
Sarum processional, 15th century.
Item
Identifier: Adv.MS.18.5.20
Scope and Contents
15th-century processional produced in England. The manuscript contains musical services according to the Use of Sarum. The work is written in littera textualis with 24 lines to a page.The contents are as follows:Temporale. Folios 1r-143v.Sanctorale. Folios 144r-176v.Commune Sanctorum and Votive. Folios 176v-193v. Folio 1r is extensively decorated and features two illuminated initials and a complete border. The initials are blue and...
Dates:
15th century.