A colophon at the end of this manuscript states that this book was
written by Herimann, a monk from the Benedictine abbey of Cluny,
for its then abbot St Majolus (b. c. 906, d. 994). This leaves no
doubt that the manuscript was written during his abbacy from 956 to
992, and makes it one of the earliest manuscripts that survives
from the abbey, founded in 910. The manuscript contains the
commentary of the Benedictine monk Hrabanus Maurus (b. c. 780, d.
856) on the Book of Jeremiah. Its single historiated initial,
containing a miniature of the Prophet Jeremiah, may be the earliest
surviving artistic production from Cluny (Evans, Cluniac Art
(1950), p. 10). Contents:ff. 1r-327: Hrabanus Maurus, Commentary on
Jeremiah, beginning ‘RABANUS Eccellentissimo Imperatori Hluthario
Virtus Vita et Salus perpetua [etc.]’. Decoration:1 large
historiated initial with knot-work and foliate decoration in black
and green (f. 9r): it contains a miniature of the Prophet Jeremiah,
enthroned, holding a book and gesturing (two figures stand next to
him). Large display capitals in red and brown ink on f. 1r and f.
327v (containing interlace). 2 medium capitals with foliate
decoration in red and purple on f. 45v and f. 60v. Large initials
in brown ink. Small capitals in purple or green with a red dot
inside the letterforms. Text and small capitals highlighted with
green ink.
