Bible Historiale

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Accession number:

MS M.433

Title:

Bible Historiale

Created:

France, probably Paris, first quarter of the 14th century.

Binding:

English 18th-century tan Russia with gilt dentelle borders, rebacked in 1940.

Credit:

Purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) in 1910.

Description:

131 leaves (2 columns, 48 lines, 46 lines from fol. 25r.), bound : vellum, ill. ; 420 x 300 mm

Provenance:

Marchese Girolamo d'Adda of Milan; C. Fairfax Murray (1849-1919); purchased by J. Pierpont Morgan (1837-1913) from Pearson in 1910; J.P. Morgan (1867-1943).

Notes:

Ms. fragment of Bible historiale by Guyart des Moulins; written and illuminated in France, probably in Paris, first quarter of the 14th century.
Texts: Psalms throughout Ezekiel (Hagiographa and Prophets); the Hagiographa lacks Ruth, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, and Job; Prophets lacks all after Ezekiel.
Fol. 24v ends in the middle of Psalm 119 (Vulg. 118) at verse 32 with the catchword for the next missing gathering. The second section of the text, beginning with Proverbs on fol. 25 is in a different script and belonged originally to a different Bible. The quality of both the illustrations and initials is inferior. The text ends after the beginning of Ezekiel.
Decoration: 1 large, 11 small miniatures.
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.
Revised: 2015

Script:

textura

Language:

French

Resources:

Description/Bibliography

Century:

14th century

Genres:

Illuminated manuscripts

Miniatures (Illuminations)

Vellum (parchment)