London. British Library, Add MS 18043

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Source
The British Library, Polonsky Pre-1200 Project
Library
London. British Library
Shelfmark
  • British Library, Add MS 18043
Biblissima authority file
Language
  • Latin
Title
  • Psalter with commentary in Latin
Description
  • This manuscript from the Benedictine abbey of Stavelot in the diocese of Liège contains a Psalter with commentary. It also contains songs for the liturgy (canticles), a litany of saints, including St Remaclus, the founder of Stavelot (c. 650), and an exposition on the Athanasian Creed. It is part of a group of manuscripts that was produced around the year 1000, probably during the abbacy of Ravanger II (r. 980-1007), and illuminated in a distinct Mosan style (Millar, The Library of A. Chester Beatty , I (1927), pp. 66-67; Nordenfalk, Codex Caesareus Upsaliensis (1971), pp. 141-42). This manuscript highlights the importance of the Psalter both textually, through commentary that explains the significance of the individual Psalms, and visually, through decorated pages that highlight the Psalter’s threefold division. The Psalter supported the monks of Stavelot in performing their liturgical duties; the Benedictine Rule required them to communally recite the entire Book of Psalms every week. That this manuscript may have been used for communal worship is suggested by the fact that the Psalter has been combined with liturgical songs. Contents:ff. 4r-170v: A Latin Psalter with commentary following each of the Psalms, beginning imperfectly in Psalm 1:1 (fifth word).ff. 170v-177r: Canticles: the Canticles of Isaiah, Hezekiah, Anna, Moses (Exodus), Habacuc, Moses (Deuteronomy), The Three Children (Benedicite), Ambrosius and Augustinus (Te Deum), Zechariah (Benedictus), the Virgin Mary (Magnificat), and Simeon (Nunc Dimittis). ff. 177v-180r: A litany of saints, including St Remaclus, founder of Stavelot, and St Hadelin, his disciple. f. 180v: The Pater Noster and Apostles Creed. ff. 181r-186r: An exposition on the Athanasian Creed, ‘Fides Catholica Sancti Athanasii’. The manuscript includes two later additions: f. 1r: A 19th-century description of the manuscript (French). ff. 2v-3r: An unidentified 14th-century (?) Latin document. [ff. 1v, 2r and 3v are blank]. Decoration:2 historiated initials on painted grounds within full-page borders, of David and Goliath and a crowned figure, at the beginning of Psalms 51 and 101 (ff. 64v and 114r). Full decorated border around the text beginning with the fifth word of Psalm 1 (abiit) (f. 4r); 2 large initials in colours and gold (f. 64v and f. 114r); large and small initials in red throughout the manuscript.
Place
Rights
  • Public domain in most countries other than the UK
License
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