Add MS 50005

Book of Hours, Dutch.

The text in the manuscript was completed by three hands:

- Hand 1, of the early fifteenth century, who completed the bulk of the manuscript (ff. 8-82v, 95-96v, 103r-104v, 110r-111v, 115r-116v, 121r-122v, 125r-126v, 132r-132v, 134r, 145r-159v).

- Hand 2, a slightly later hand of perhaps the mid-15th century, who inserted text on blank leaves already present within the manuscript and often on the reverse of leaves bearing miniatures (ff. 83r-87r, 87r-94r, 97r, 98r, 99r-102r, 105r-109r, 112r-114r, 117r-120r, 123r, 124r, 127r-131r, 133r, 134v-138r). This has resulted in text copied by Hand 1 (especially between ff. 95r and 138r) being interspersed with other text completed by Hand 2.

- Hand 3, of perhaps the second half of the 15th century, who inserted text on blank leaves already present at the end of the volume and on a quire of leaves perhaps added for this purpose (ff. 159v-161v, 162r-165v, 165v-166v, 168r-172v, 172v-179r).

(The rubrics that accompany the miniatures may have been completed another hand).

Part of the text was erased and replaced by a new text. The original, comprising the first words of the Seven Pentitential Psalms, can be read with the aid of ultra-violet light (ff. 82-102).

Since different texts are interleaved as a result of the manuscript's production, the description of the manuscript's contents will follow the divisions between the three hands:

Hand 1:

ff. 8r-82v: 'Onser vrouwen getide'; Hours of the Virgin;

ff. 95r-96v, 103r-104v, 110r-111v, 115r-116v, 121r-122v, 125r-126v, 132r-132v, 134r: 'Des heilighen cruus corte ghetide. Te mettentijr'; Little Hours of the Cross;

ff. 145r-148v: 'Dit sijn seuen woerde die onse lieue here Ihesus Christus sprac hanghende an den cruce...'; a prayer, beginning 'Here ihu xpe leuende gods sone. die in der lester tijt uwes leves'. 'On the Seven Words from the Cross', a version of 'Domine Iesu Christe qui septem verba die ultimo vite tue' (printed by Leroquais, Les Livres d'Heures Manuscrits de la Bibliothèque Nationale, 3 vols (1927), II: p. 342);

ff. 149r-149v: 'Dese collect sal een mensche deuoteliken lesen als hi comt voer een crucifixe'; a prayer to be said before a Crucifix, beginning 'Here ihesu xpe om die bitterheit der passyen';

ff. 151r-154r: 'Sinte Thomas gebet'; a prayer, beginning 'Verlene mi ontfermhertighe god'. A version of 'Concede mihi, misericors deus', attributed to St Thomas Aquinas;

ff. 156r-158r: A prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary (imperfect), beginning 'godliken monde sijt uenicht recht als een moeder';

ff. 159r-159v: 'Collect'; a prayer to the Saviour, beginning 'God die inden heilighen cruce'.

Hand 2:

ff. 83r-83v: Note on the three things necessary for salvation: the Ten Commandments, the Creed and the Lord's Prayer;

ff. 84r-87r: A form for the confession of sins;

ff. 87r-94r, 97r, 98r: A version of the Mass for the 20th Sunday after Pentecost;

ff. 99r-102r, 105r-109r, 112r-114r, 117r-120r, 123r, 124r: A prayer of thanksgiving to God for the gift of his son, beginning 'Een dancberheit tot God den vader almachtich. hem danckende van die wairdige ende salige offerhande sijns gebenedijden soens';

ff. 127r-131r, 133r, 134v-138r: A prayer of thankgiving to Jesus, beginning 'Een gebet een dancberheit tot onsen heer Iesum', and other prayers.

Hand 3:

ff. 159v-161v: A memorial of St Erasmus, beginning 'O heilighe martelaer xpi sinte erasme';

ff. 162r-165v: An exhortation on the Passion, addressed to a woman, beginning 'O mijn gheminde suster ic node di opten guede uridach';

ff. 165v-166r: A memorial of St Barbara, beginning 'O heilige barbara ghe waerdige';

ff. 168r-172v: Various prayers;

ff. 172v-178r (ff. 175 and 179 are misplaced before ff. 174 and 178): Memorials of St Katherine of Alexandria, the Eleven Thousand Virgins, the Four Evangelists, and Saints Agatha, Stephen, 'Ieroen' [Ieron or Hieron], Agnes and Francis.

Decoration:

The manuscript contains a series of 66 full-page miniatures between f. 1v and f. 155v. At least three miniatures are missing, one between f. 60v and f. 66v (presumably showing the Dormition of the Virgin), and two between f. 66v and f. 84v (presumably showing the Assumption and the Coronation of the Virgin).

George Warner suggested that two different hands were responsible for the miniatures, the second hand producing miniatures 'inferior both in drawing and colouring, though the style is essentially the same' (ff. 84v, 85v, 86v, 87v, 88v, 89v, 90v, 91v, 93v, 97v, 99v, 101v, 105v, 108v) (Warner, Descriptive Catalogue (1920), p. 252).

However, James H. Marrow and others (Marrow and others, The Golden Age of Dutch Manuscript Painting (1990), p. 63) have rejected this, arguing that 'the book was seriously damaged at an early stage, and some parts of it were later repainted'.

The subjects of the miniatures (with captions) are as follows:

1. f. 1v: The rejection of Joachim's offering: caption illegible;

2. f. 2v: Annunciation. (misplaced, should follow no. 6): 'Die groest van onser vrou';

3. f. 3v: Joachim in the fields: 'Hier gaet Ioachim totten herden ende die engel troesten';

4. f. 4v: Joachim and Anna at the Golden Gate: 'Hier ghemoet Anna Ioachim in der gulden poorten';

5. f. 5v: The Nativity of the Virgin Mary: 'Hier leyt Anna van onser vrou';

6. f. 6v: The Presentation of the Virgin: 'Hier offermen Maria in den tempel doe si drie jaer out was';

7. f. 7v: The Marriage of the Virgin: 'Die bruloft van Marien ende Ioseph';

8. f. 21v: The Visitation: 'Hier vandet Maria hoer nicht Elisabet';

9. f. 22v: The Nativity of Christ: 'Hier leyt Maria in den kraem van Ihesus';

10. f. 36v: The Annunciation to the Shepherds: 'Hier bootscap die enghel den herderen';

11. f. 37v: The Magi and Herod: 'Hier vraghen die drie coninghen Herodes na den gheboren coninc der Ioden';

12. f. 45v: The Epiphany/Adoration of the Magi: 'Hier offeren die drie coninghen';

13. f. 46v: The Purification/Presentation: 'Hier offermen Ihesus in den tempel ende Symeon ende Anna ontfaen hem';

14. f. 52v: The Flight into Egypt: 'Hier varen Maria ende Ioseph met den kinde tot Egipten waert';

15. f. 53v: The Miraculous Corn: 'Hier onderuraecht Herodes den madders of sy yement hebben sien voirbi liden';

16. f. 59v: The Massacre of the Innocents: 'Hier doet Herodes die onnosel kinder doden';

17. f. 60v: Christ amongst the Doctors: 'Hier wort Ihesus tot sinen xii iaren van Maria ende Ioseph gheuonden in tempel disputierende';

18. f. 66v: The Funeral of the Virgin Mary: 'Hier draghen die apostolen Marien ten graue ende die Ioden diet hinderen wouden werden onmachtlich';

19. f. 84v: Christ's entry into Jerusalem: 'Hier comt hi in Iherusalem op ten palmdach';

20. f. 85v: The Last Supper: 'Hier eet Ihesus sijn auontmael mit sijn apostolen';

21. f. 86v: Judas and the Chief Priests: 'Hier vercoept Judas Ihesum om xxx penninge';

22. f. 87v: The Agony in the Garden: 'Hier aenbeet Ihesus sinen vader ende die apostolen sitten ende slapen';

23. f. 88v: The Soldiers afraid: 'Hier coemse ende willen Ihesum vanghen ende vallen affroaert';

24. f. 89v: The Betrayal: 'Hier vanghen die Ioden Ihesum ende die apostolen vlien ende Pieter slaet Malcum wer af';

25. f. 90v: Christ before Annas: 'Hier brencmen [Ihesum] eerst voer Annas';

26. f. 91v: Christ before Caiaphas: 'Hier brenctmen Ihesum voir Cayphas';

27. f. 92v: Christ buffeted: 'Hier halen si Ihesum sijn cleet ouer sijn oghen ende ducten ende Petrus heeft hem versaect bi den vier ende loopt wech';

28. f. 93v: Peter's repentance: 'Hier bescreit Petrus dat hi Ihesum versaect had vor die haen ghecreyt had';

29. f. 94v: Judas's suicide: 'Hier heeft Iudas die xxx penninghe in den tempel gheworpen ende heeft hem seluen verhangen ende is gheborsten';

30. f. 97v: Christ before Pilate: 'Hier brenctmen [Ihesum] voir Pylatum';

31. f. 98v: Christ before Herod: 'Hier wort Ihesus ghebrocht voir Herodem';

32. f. 99v: Christ before Pilate: 'Hier brenctmen Ihesus van Herodem tot Pylatus mit een wit cleet als een sac';

33. f. 100v: Christ crowned with thorns: 'Hier coronen si Ihesus mit een doornen croon';

34. f. 101v: Christ mocked: 'Hier bespotten si Ihesus ende gheuen heem een riet in sijn hant';

35. f. 102v: Christ reviled: 'Hier slaen si ende verlipen ende bespuwen Ihesum';

36. f. 105v: Christ prepared for scourging: 'Hier trecmen Ihesus sijn cleder wt om te gheselen';

37. f. 106v: The Scourging: 'Hier gheselen si Ihesum';

38. f. 107v: Pilate washes his hands: 'Hier brenctmen Ihesus ghegheselt voir Pylatus ende Pylatus wast sijn hande ende verwijsten';

39. f. 108v: Christ led away to be crucified: 'Hier leydtmen Ihesum wten vierscaer om hem te crucen';

40. f. 109v: The Carrying of the Cross: 'Hier drecht hi sijn cruus ende Symeon die halp hem ende Maria mit horen vrienden volchden hem droeuelic';

41. f. 112v: Christ prepared for crucifixion: 'Hier trecmen Ihesum sijn cleder wt om te crucen ende die wonden die ontspringhen weder';

42. f. 113v: Christ nailed to the Cross: 'Hier recken si Ihesum ende naghelenen an den cruce';

43. f. 114v: The Cross being set up: 'Hier trecmen Ihesum ghecruust op. Ende Maria slaet hem hoer hoeftcleet om sijn lenden';

44. f. 117v: The Crucifixion: 'Hier stect centurio Ihesus in sijn syde ende men slaet den mordenaers haer been ontwee';

45. f. 118v: The soldiers cast lots for, and fight over, Christ's clothes: 'Hier werpen si tlot op Ihesus cleet ende vechten daer om';

46. f. 119v: The soldiers part Christ's clothes: 'Hier deelmen Ihesus cledar';

47. f. 120v: Joseph and Nicodemus before Pilate: 'Hier comen Ioseph ende Nicodemus mit horen ghesin ende bidden Pylatus om Ihesus van den cruus te nemen';

48. f. 123v: The Deposition: 'Hier doetmen Ihesum van den cruus';

49. f. 124v: The Pietà: 'Hier heeft Maria Ihesum op ten scoot ende bescreit hem mit haren vrienden';

50. f. 127v: The Anointing: 'Hier wort Ihesus ghesaluet van sinen vrienden';

51. f. 128v: The Entombment: 'Hier leytmen Ihesum int graf';

52. f. 129v: Closing the tomb: 'Hier legghen die iongheren den steen opt graf';

53. f. 130v: The Jews ask for a watch on the tomb: ' Hier bidden die Ioden Pylatum dat hi tgraf laet hueden';

54. f. 131v: The Harrowing of Hell: 'Hier brect Ihesus <...>' (inscription mostly cut away);

55. f. 133v: The Instruments of the Passion: 'Die wapen der passion ons heren';

56. f. 135v: The Resurrection: 'Hier verrijst Ihesus vten graue';

57. f. 136v: The Three Marys at the Sepulchre: 'Hier comen die drie Marien ten graue ende sien den steen van den graue ende enghelen int graf';

58. f. 136v: Christ and Mary Magdalen: 'Hier openbaert Ihesus eerst Marien Magdalen';

59. f. 137v: The Supper at Emmaus: 'Hier open baer Ihesus Cleophas ende Lucas ende wert bekent in brekinge des broots';

60. f. 139v: Christ appears to the Apostles, excluding Thomas: 'Hier openbaer Ihesus sinen apostolen ende Thomas en isser niet mede';

61. f. 140v: Christ appears to the Apostles, including Thomas: 'Hier openbaert hi anderwerf den apostolen ende Thomas steect sijn vingher in sijn side';

62. f. 141v: The Ascension: 'Hier vaert Ihesus ten hemel waert';

63. f. 142v: Pentecost: 'Hier sent Ihesus den heilighen gheest sinen vrienden';

64. f. 144v: The Seven Words from the Cross: (from the top, clockwise) 'Heli heli lamazabani'; 'Sicio. Mi dorst'; 'Huden seltu mit mi wesen int paradijs'; 'Vader verghist den ghenen die mi crucen'; 'Wyf sich hier dijn kijnt'; 'Consumatum est. Het is al veruolt'; 'Vater in dinen handen beuele ic';

65. f. 150v: The Saviour: 'Onse behouder';

66. f. 155v: The Virgin and a female petitioner (presumably the owner of the book, with blank speech scroll): 'Maria'.

For detailed descriptions of these scenes, see Warner, Descriptive Catalogue (1920), pp. 252-56.

For further discussion of their style and iconography, and the model used, see Marrow, 'Dutch Manuscript Illumination' (1968), pp. 89-95 and Marrow and others, The Golden Age of Dutch Manuscript Painting (1990), pp. 63-64. Marrow suggests that the miniatures and decoration in Add MS 50005 were produced in a workshop that he calls 'The Atelier of the Master of the Morgan Infancy Cycle', from which also came:

- Liège, University Library, Wittert MS. 35 (a Book of Hours);

- New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, M. 866, formerly in the collection of the Dukes of Arenberg (see Illuminated Manuscripts . . . from the Bibliothèque of Their Highnesses the Dukes d'Arenberg (1952), no. 79, with illustrations; Treasures from the Pierpont Morgan Library (1957), no. 33, pl. 27; Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts: Major Acquisitions of the Pierpont Morgan Library 1924-1974 (1974), no. 44);

- Berlin, Kupferstichkabinet, no. 2302 (a single detached miniature of the Arrest of Christ);

- Utrecht, Universiteitsbibliotheek, MS 5.J.26 (Book of Hours of Kunera van Leefdal).

The remaining decoration reflects the completion of the manuscript in three phases, with the style and extent of decoration in the parts of the manuscript copied by Hand 1 differing from that found in parts completed by Hand 2 and Hand 3.

Decoration found on leaves with text written by Hand 1:

Three historiated initials:

- f. 8r: very large coloured initial on gold background, enclosing the Virgin nursing the Child (Maria Lactans) before a chequered background; full foliate border, inhabited by two children grasping the foliage and an angel with a trumpet;

- f. 47r: large coloured initial on gold background, enclosing a crowing cockerel; in the margin, a goose with its neck encircled by a crown, biting onto leaves and walking along a rope or torse from which further leaves descend (perhaps an adaptation of a coat of arms?);

- f. 54r: large coloured initial on gold background, enclosing an angel sitting cross-legged and reading from a book; a bird is perched atop the initial; in the margin, a naked child is riding on the back of an ostrich grotesque.

Fourteen large coloured initials on burnished gold backgrounds (ff. 23r, 38r, 61r, 67r, 75r, 95r, 103r, 110r, 115r, 121r, 125r, 132r, 145r, including one zoomorphic initial on f. 151r); accompanied by partial foliate and flower borders, sometimes featuring peapods and flowers (f. 23r), columbines (f. 38r), or oak leaves, acorns and eagle (f. 61r), or a zoomorphic border with a dragon (f. 75r), or gold pendant with interlacing and attached foliate and flower decoration (ff. 103r, 151r). For further discussion of the border decoration, see Marrow, 'Dutch Manuscript Illumination' (1968), pp. 85-8, figs 21-6.

One large gold initial, inhabited by a bear sketched in red pen, with purple pen-flourishing.

Small, two-line initials in burnished gold with coloured penwork decoration and pen-flourishing.

One-line plain initials in colours and burnished gold.

Paintings and sketches of assorted real and grotesque animals and anthropomorphic creatures in the margins.

Decoration found on leaves with text written by Hand 2:

Small, plain initials, alternating in red and blue.

Decoration found on leaves with text written by Hand 3:

Small, plain initials, alternating in red and dark blue (apparently executed by a different hand to those within Hand 2's campaign), occasionally with contrasting penwork decoration and pen-flourishing.