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Manchester. The John Rylands Library, Latin MS 98

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Source
Manchester Digital Collections
Library
The John Rylands Library
Shelfmark
  • Latin MS 98
Biblissima authority file
Language
  • Latin
Title
    • Epistula ad Damasum
    • Book of Matthew
    • Book of Mark
    • Book of Luke
    • Book of John
    • Capitulare evangeliorum
    • Common of Saints
    • see more
Agent
  • Preferred form
    • Jérôme (saint, 0345?-0420)
    Role
    • Author
    Original form
    • Jerome, Saint, 347-420
    • Saint Jerome (b. 347, d. 420, theologian and priest
    Other form
    • HIERONYMUS (S.)
    • Hieronymus (saint ; 0345?-0420)
    • S. Hieronymus
    • S. HIERONYMUS
    • Hieronymus Stridonius
    • Hieronymus
    • HIERONYMUS
    • IERONIMO
    • HIERONIMO
    • Jérôme (saint ; 0345?-0420)
    • HIERONYMUS (s.)
    • Sancti Jeromini
    • S. Hieronymus,
    • Jerome, S.
    • Hieronymys Stridonius
    • Jérôme (saint ; 0345?-0420)
    • HIERONYMUS STRIDONIUS
    • Jérôme
    • Hieronymo
    • Saint Jérôme
    • Jérôme (0345?-0420 ; saint)
    • Sanctus Hieronimus
    • Jérôme (saint, 0345?-0420)
    • Hieronymus (s.)
    • Jheronimus Stridonius
    • Hieronimi
    • Hieronimus Stridonius
    • Hieronymus Stridonensis
    • JERONIMI
    • Ieronimi
    • Sancti Hieronymi
    • Hieronymi
    • Hieronimus
    • S. Jérôme
    • Jérôme (Saint)
    • Jérôme saint 0345?-0420
    • Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius 345-420
    • Hieronymus (heilige)
    • Jerome, Saint, d. 419 or 20
    • Jeroni, sant, ca. 342-420
    • Jerónimo, Santo
    • Author: Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius
    • Translator: Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius
    • Jerome
    • Jerome, Saint, -419 or 420
    • Jerome, c 345-420, Saint
    • St Jerome
    • Jerome, Saint (-419 or 420)
    • Jerome, Saint (-419 or 420), author
    • Hieronymus, Heilige, 347?-420
    • Jérôme (saint ; 0345?-0420). Auteur.
    • Jérôme (saint)
    • Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius, 345-420
    • Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius
    • Saint Jérôme
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus (345-420)
    • D. Hieronymus
    • Divus Hieronymus
    • Hieronymus santo
    • Hieronimus santo
    • Hieronymus santo, 342/347-419
    • Saint Jerome (b. 347, d. c. 420)
    • Saint Jerome (b. 347, d. 420), priest and theologian
    • Jerome Saint (-419 or 420)
    • Jérôme de Stridon, saint (345-420) > Père de l'Eglise
    • Jérôme de Stridon, saint (345-420)
    • Jérôme de Stridon (347/8-419/20)
    • Hieronymus, Sophronius Eusebius (ca. 349-420)
    • Jerónimo, Santo, 346-420
    • Jerónimo, Santo, ca 343-420
    • Jerónimo, Santo, ca 343-420 > , co-autor
    • Jerónimo, Santo, ca 343-420 > , impr.
    • Jerónimo, Santo, ca 343-420 > , trad.
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus - 348 - 420 - vertalerauteurbriefschrijver
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus - 348 - 420 - vertalerauteur voorwoord
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus - 348 - 420 - vertalerauteur
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus - 348 - 420 - auteur
    • Hieronymus - auteur
    • Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus - 348 - 420 - vertaler
    • see more
    Biblissima portal
    Biblissima authority file
  • Preferred form
    • James Ludovic Lindsay (comte de Crawford, 1847-1913)
    Role
    • Former owner
    Original form
    • James Ludovic Lindsay (b. 1847, d. 1913), 26th Earl of Crawford
    • Lindsay, James Ludovic, 1847-1913
    Other form
    • Lindsay, James Ludovic, Earl (1847-1913)
    • James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford
    • Lindsay, James Ludovic (1847-1913)
    • James Ludovic Lindsay (b. 1847, d. 1913), peer and collector
    • James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford, 1847-1913
    • Crawford, James Ludovic Lindsay, Earl of, 1847-1913
    • James Ludovic Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford 1847-1913
    • James Ludovic Lindsay, 1847-1913, 26th Earl of Crawford
    • James Ludovic Lindsay 1847-1913, 26th Earl of Crawford
    • Lindsay, James Ludovic, 1847-1913, 26th Earl of Crawford
    • James Lindsay, 26th Earl of Crawford of Haigh Hall
    • see more
    Biblissima portal
    Biblissima authority file
  • Preferred form
    • Joseph Marie Martin Van den Gheyn (1854-1913)
    Original form
    • Joseph van den Gheyn (b. 1854, d. 1913), monk and Bollandist
    • Van den Gheyn, Joseph, 1854-1913
    Biblissima authority file
Description
  • Extent:
    ff. 207 (ii+205) Leaf height: 240 mm, width: 193 mm.
    Binding:

    Brown leather, with plain central panel and roll-pattern, over wooden boards, two metal clasps with slight ornament.

    16th century


    Decoration:

    This manuscript is now generally assigned to the outstanding Trier artist of the Ottonian period known as the 'Master of the Registrum Gregorii'. Brigitte Nitschke has doubted this (see her Die Handschrijtengruppe urn den Meister des Registrum Gregorii (Münstersche Studien zur Kunstgeschichte, Bd.v (1966)), particularly pp. 72-74, 81). For a detailed discussion of the whole matter see Peter Bloch and Hermann Schnitzler, Die ottonische Kölner Malerschule, 2 vols. (Düsseldorf, 1970) and the references there, particularly the notes in Bd.II, pp. 15, 17-21. Bloch and Schnitzler devote a whole section to this manuscript under the heading 'Das Evangeliar des Trierer Gregormeisters in Manchester, John Rylands Library Cod. 98' (Bd. II, pp. 15-21) giving (a) a full collation (II.16-17), (b) a reconstruction of its imperfections from the Stuttgart Gospels (Landesbibliothek MS. Bibl. f. 21), a MS. which was copied from it (II.15), (c) notes on its provenance (II.17), localisation and dating (II.17-19) and style (II.19-20), and (d) an account of its significance (II.20-21). They date it, 'with great probability', to between 996 and 1002. It apparently found its way to Cologne soon after it was completed and influenced the decoration of a number of manucsripts executed there in the early 11th century. From these we may obtain a good idea of the miniatures it now lacks.


    Folio 1r: Outer frame gold, edged with red; four small leaves in gold at the angles. Inner frame of three main bands, separated by red lines. The outermost and broadest is of acanthus-foliage, in white on dark blue: the next, narrow, plain gold: the innermost, gold scroll-work on light purple. At the angles, four squares of light red, with a conventional four-petalled flower in white and gold. The main ground purple, with some small ornaments in white: mainly occupied by a large B, of minuscule form, of gold edged with red (as throughout), containing panels of white and green. It has knots of plaited work and a dragon's head. Within it the ground is a brilliant green, with white ornaments, in which is set a large knot of plaited work. Around this latter are the letters: E, A, Ti, S (Beatis-) in gold - some filled with green. Below, two lines of gold uncials: -simo papae Damaso Hieronimus. Old uncoloured silk guard.

    Folio 10r: Eusebian canons. The section numbers are arranged in four or three columns on a page. They are in red at first, then in black. Short gold lines separate the groups of numbers. The framework is in the form of the façade of a classical temple: pediment, with acroteria (on the gable only, except on the first page); architrave (inscribed with the title of the Canon, e.g. Canon primus in quo iiii. Mat. Mar. Luc. Ioh., in gold uncials: round-headed arches underneath. The columns supporting these arches are very variously coloured and patterned. On the first page there are five columns treated thus (from left): nos. 1 and 5 are pink, with spiral wavy lines, alternately gold and white: nos. 2 and 4 are green, with irregular patches of gold: no. 3 is plain gold. The capitals are of conventional foliage, usually in pink or blue (or both), heightened with white. The bases uniformly gold. The colours of pediment, architrave, etc., are varied: pink, purple, blues, and greens

    Folio 16r: Frontispiece to Matthew. Outer frame vermilion, edged with blue and patterned with gold: projections of gold foliage at the angles and in the centres of the sides. Inner frame mainly gold, with red lines and small patterns in colour: at the angles, dark blue acanthus, with white patterns. In the centre of each side is a medallion with gold ground set on a square of dull blue, with groups of three white dots in the spandrels. Each medallion contains a bust, in colour, of a beardless man in mantle, fastened on the right shoulder. The mantle is twice pink and twice green, over white. Each medallion is edged with a red line dotted with white. The heads of the busts at top and on left look to the right. The others look to the left. Each has an inscription in tiny capitals round the head, as follows: 1 (top): ROMANE. R. P. DlVI MEM OTTO IMPER. AVG. 2 (left): XPIANE RELIGIONIS ET ROMANE R. P. OTTO IMP. AVG. 3 (bottom): D. CORONATVS ROMANE R. P. OTTO IMPER. AVG. 4 (right): XPIANE RELIGIONIS ET ROMANE. R. P. OTTO IMP. Main ground purple: within the convolutions of the foliage it is green, with white dots. It is occupied by a large gold L and I (the latter springing into foliage). These have panels of white plaited-work about them, and below them, in gold uncials, the letters: -ber generationis.

    Folios 11v and 17r: framed in green and gold, and the text of the genealogy is written in gold as far as i. 27: qui uocatur christus. Initials of chapters are in plain gold: others in red.

    Folio 62r: five bands, three of purple and two of green. On these, in gold capitals: Incipit ar/gumentum /Evangelii / secundum/ Marcum. Marcus euangelista dei. Fine gold initial. On a patch of purple, in gold uncials: Expl. argumentum. hic. capitula sequentis

    Folio 64v-65r: Framed decorations. On f. 64v the main ground is green. On it are four bands of purple, inscribed in gold capitals: Incipit li/ber sci evan/gelii secun/dum Marcum. On f. 65r the main ground is purple: occupied by a large gold foliated I and the letters NITIVM. The frame contains plaited work in gold on green.

    Folio 98r: Full-page decoration. Outer frame vermilion. Then two bands of gold and a band of white between them, with gold plaited-work. Within this, several bands of wavy lines-white, gold, purple. In the centres of the sides of the frame are set four squares, framed in green, containing rosettes (2) and crossshaped ornaments (2), mainly in red and purple. Ground of panel, purple. A large Q occupies most of it, which is in gold, with panels of green and white. Below it, in gold uncials: -uoniam quidem.

    Folio 150v: Title to John: Incipit ar/gumentum/ evangelii/ secundum/Iohannem /, in gold capitals, on alternate bands of purple and green Prologue: Hic est Johannes. Gold initial. In gold uncials on purple: Expl. argumentum.

    Folio 153v: Full-page. Frame in gold, and purple with gold plaited-work. Ground within, green with four bands of purple (as for Mark), inscribed in gold capitals: Incipit liber / sci evange/lii secundum/Iohannem. At the angles are four small square pictutes, with light purple ground, each representing a black-haired beardless Evangelist, seated. Each has a sloping desk on a shaft, with a ledge to support the book. Top left: Dark mantle over bluish white. Bending forward, he writes in a book on his knee: no book on desk on right. Top right: Pink mantle over bluish white. Desk on left. He sits, holding a pen, supporting a book on his left knee, and looking to right. Bottom left: pink mantle over bluish white. Leans forward to right, left hand to his face, right elbow on knee, finger pointing to desk with book on right. Bottom right: dark mantle over bluish white. Desk on left with book. He sits, leaning his face on his right hand and looking towards the desk. The classical feeling in these small pictures is very strong.

    Folio 154r: Full-page. Frame gold, blue acanthus pattern, gold, green. Inner ground purple, occupied by the letters I over N in gold, with panels of white plaited-work and gold foliage. Above and below, in gold uncials: principio erat uerbum. Five small square pictures, with purple frames and gold grounds, set in the centres of the sides and centre of the page, represent: centre, The Lamb, with cross-nimbus, facing right, his breast pierced by a spear. Bottom, half-length angel in pink over blue, and blue-white wings, looking up to right and holding up scroll over left hand. Right, pink lion, with blue wings, couchant, head to right, a book between his fore-feet. Left, winged ox, similar, head to left. Top, eagle, with blue wings and pink body, looking back to right, a roll under his right claw.

    Folio 192r: in gold uncials on purple: Inc. breuiarium/Lectionum euangeli/orum legendorum per / circirculum (sic) anni. Rubric. In uigilia natalis domini hora nona ad sanctam mariam.


    Acquisition:

    Purchased by Enriqueta Rylands in 1901 from James Ludovic Lindsay (b. 1847, d. 1913), 26th Earl of Crawford. Bequeathed by Rylands to the John Rylands Library in 1908.


    Layout:

    1 column, 25 lines to a page


    Collation:

    Quire 12
    Quire A8
    Quire B6
    Quire C4, 1 and 2 cut out
    Quires D-H8
    Quire I6
    Quire K absent
    Quire L2
    Quires M-P8
    Quire Q?4, 1-3 cut out
    Quires R-Z8
    Quire aa absent
    Quire bb2
    Quires cc-ff8
    Quire gg6
    Quire hh8
    Quire ii4


    Script:
    Written in miniscule by a single scribe
    Data Source(s):
    Description based on M.R. James, A Descriptive Catalogue of the Latin Manuscripts in the John Rylands Library at Manchester (Manchester, 1921), reprinted with an introduction and additional notes and corrections by F. Taylor (München, 1980), revised and expanded by Joanne Edge.
    Subject(s):
    Religion; Christianity; Bible. Latin--Versions--Vulgate; Bible. New Testament
    Abstract:

    Gospel Book, produced for Otto III between 996-1002, possibly by the Trier artist known as the 'Master of the Registrum Gregorii'. It seems to have been in Cologne soon after it was completed and influenced the decoration of a number of manuscripts executed there in the early 11th century, which provide a good idea of the miniatures it now lacks.


    Foliation:

    Foliated 1-205.


    Format:
    Codex
    Material:
    Parchment.
    Provenance:

    In Cologne soon after creation, as it influenced a number of manuscripts that were illuminated there in the early 11th century

    Purchased by James Ludovic Lindsay (b. 1847, d. 1913), 26th Earl of Crawford at the Fountaine Sale in 1894 (CLL, Oct.-Dec. 1895 [sic], no. 759). Crawford's librarian, Mr. Edmond, visited the Bollandists in October 1895 to try to discover further details about it, but, he reported, 'all in vain', although Joseph van den Gheyn (b. 1854, d. 1913), monk and Bollandist 'spent hours with me hunting for information' (ibid. no. 712). It must, he informed Lord Crawford, have been acquired by them after the French Revolution, but 'unfortunately they have no register of gifts, or letter book in which such a gift might be recorded' (ibid. nos. 712-13).

    On the fore-edge of the manuscript, in black ink, is written 'Biblia' and that the watermark (fleur-de-lys) on the front fly-leaf approximates to Heawood, nos. 1673, 1679 (Dutch, 1690s).


    Condition:

    In very good condition, although some frontispieces to the Gospels have been cut out.

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  • Provided by The University of Manchester. Zooming image © University of Manchester Library, All rights reserved. Images and Metadata made available for download are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). Images and Metadata made available for download are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).
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