Bible Historiale

See more images »

Accession number:

MS M.322-323

Title:

Bible Historiale

Created:

Paris, France, ca. 1325.

Binding:

French red morocco gilt tooled, with a crowned dolphin tooled on the back in the lowest panel and on the interior dentelle, ca. 1700; lettered: La Bible en Francois.

Credit:

Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1907.

Description:

2 v. (282, 288 leaves) (3 columns, 47-51 lines), bound : vellum, ill. ; 425 x 310 mm

Provenance:

Member of the Rochechouart family (shield, M.323 fol. 1v). Given (Jan. 8, 1466) by Cardinal Jehan Rolin, Bishop of Autun, to his niece Jehanne Roline (inscription on fol. 288 of M. 323. An earlier inscription is erased: cest livre est a moi Cardines).; 18th-century ex-libris of Quarré d'Aligny of Burgundy; purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Bourdariat in 1907; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943).

Notes:

Ms. Bible historiale; written and illuminated in Paris, France, ca. 1325.
The Bible historiale was a popular medieval text combining biblical narrative, legend, and religious commentary. It was written by Guyart des Moulins (ca. 1295) and based on Peter Comestor's 12th-century Historia scholastica.
This set lacks I and II Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah; it includes Baruch.
Scribe: Jean de Senlis (M.322: quires 1-33 of 36; M.323: quires 1-12, 23-38 of 38) and a second unknown scribe.
Decoration: v. 1 has 87 miniatures; v. 2 has 46 miniatures.
Artists: Maubeuge Master (M.322: quires 1, 4-36 of 36; M.323: all) and Richard de Montbaston (M.322: quires 2-3). See Rouse, Richard H. and Mary A. Rouse, Manuscripts and Their Makers for these attributions.
Arms of the Rochechouart family (fascé, ondé d'argent et de gueules) on Goliath's shield on fol. 1v of M.323.
Revised: 2015

Script:

textura

Language:

French

Resources:

Description/Bibliography

Century:

14th century

Genres:

Illuminated manuscripts

Miniatures (Illuminations)

Vellum (parchment)