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Leaf for the feast of the Assumption from a Missal

Manuscript Cutting
ca. 1320-1330 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This leaf comes from a Missal and contains part of the mass for the feast of the Assumption (15 August, when the Virgin Mary's body was assumed into Heaven after her death. A Missal was a service book containing the texts necessary for the performance of the Mass together with ceremonial directions. The historiated initial 'F' shows four angels lifting the Virgin into Heaven.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleLeaf for the feast of the Assumption from a Missal
Materials and techniques
Brief description
Leaf from a Missal with a historiated initial showing the Assumption, Umbria, ca.1320-1330.
Physical description
Recto: Introit for the Assumption of the Virgin: 'Gaudeamus omnes in Domino...'
Verso: Historiated initial F showing the Assumption of the Virgin.
Incipit: Famulorum tuorum domine delictis...
Reading from the Book of Wisdom (Libri Sapientiae) Ecclesiaticus 24:11-18 (rest of the text continues on missing page): 'In omnibus requiem quaesivi...'
Mass for the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary (15 August).
26 lines on 2 columns.
Dimensions
  • Height: 365mm
  • Width: 255mm
Content description
Angels carry the Virgin Mary into Heaven after her death.
Production typeUnique
Object history
Part of a group of 'illuminations' bought from Spithower in Rome on 18 December 1860 (now Museum nos 1487-1537).
Cuttings from the same manuscript in the V&A collection: Museum nos 1489, 1490, 1491, 1492, 1493, 1494, 1495.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This leaf comes from a Missal and contains part of the mass for the feast of the Assumption (15 August, when the Virgin Mary's body was assumed into Heaven after her death. A Missal was a service book containing the texts necessary for the performance of the Mass together with ceremonial directions. The historiated initial 'F' shows four angels lifting the Virgin into Heaven.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Catalogue of Miniatures, Leaves, and Cuttings from Illuminated Manuscripts. Victoria and Albert Museum. Department of Engraving, Illustration and Design, by S.C. Cockerell and C. Harcourt Smith (London: HMSO, 1923, 2nd edition). p. 74.
  • Freuler, G., The McCarthy Collection, vol. I: Italian and Byzantine Miniatures, London : Ad Ilissum, 2018. In relation to no. 49, p. 157 and fig. 49.2.
Collection
Accession number
1489

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Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
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