Dominican friar's decorative Bible leaf, Italy , circa 1240
Scope and Contents
The large initial 'I' at the bottom of the left column begins the Epistle of St. James the Apostle. Iacobus Dei et Domini nostri Iesu Christi servus duodecim tribubus quae sunt in dispersione salutem omne gaudium existimate fratres mei cum in temptationibus variis incideritis: scientes quod probatio fidei vestrae patientiam operatur patientia autem opus perfectum habeat ut sitis perfecti et integri in nullo deficientes. (James, the servant of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy, when you shall fall into divers temptations: Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience, And patient hath a perfect work: that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.)
Information derived from dealer description.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1240
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is located at the Loyola Notre Dame Library. Contact Archives and Special Collections for more information. This collection is open for research.
Biographical / Historical
Origin: Bologna, Italy
The production of small format ("pocket") bibles flourished in Paris and, to a much lesser extent, in Bologna in the 13th century. Written on extremely thin parchment in an extraordinarily tiny script, these codices were highly portable. The parent book of this leaf was a particularly high quality Bible used in the study of theology or preaching around the medieval countryside by a Dominican friar.
Information derived from dealer description.
Extent
From the Collection: 0.58 Cubic Feet (2 flat boxes)
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: French
From the Collection: Latin
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Littera Scripta in 2021
Physical Description
Size of leaf: approx. 160x110 mm. Text and illuminated area: approx. 155x90 mm.
Recto: Text written in black ink on extremely thin vellum in Latin in a precise gothic miniscule script in two columns of 48 lines. The text is written in remarkably tiny and well formed letters, so small that there are five lines of text to the centimeter, or thirteen lines to the inch. One eighteen-line initial "I" in blue and red puzzle style decoration, one six-line initial "N" in blue infilled with red penwork and with extensive marginal penwork. Three further illuminated initials. Chapter numbers and titles in alternating red and blue initials.
Verso: As Recto with Chapter 3 beginning with an illuminated initial "N" in blue with red penwork and Chapter 4 beginning with an illuminated "V" in red with blue penwork.
Information derived from dealer description.
Repository Details
Part of the Loyola Notre Dame Library Archives and Special Collections Repository