Leaf from the Giltlingen Missal
Manuscript Cutting
ca. 1485-1489 (illuminated)
ca. 1485-1489 (illuminated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Conrad Wagner, who illuminated this page, was among the brethren of the rich monastery of Saints Afra and Ulrich in Augsburg. The chronicle of the abbey describes him as ‘bonus illuminista’ and as ‘diversis artibus...instructus’ (‘a good illuminator’, skilful in many arts’). He was said to have produced several books, including this missal for Johann von Giltlingen, who was abbot of the monastery between 1482 and 1496.
A missal was a service book containing texts necessary for the performance of the Mass. This missal was a sumptuous manuscript, clearly not produced under constraints of time and expense. The border has a ground of burnished gold on which are conventional sprays of acanthus and stylized flowers in rich blues, reds, ochres and greens. The initial contains a scene showing the three kings (or Magi) presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the birth of the infant Jesus. The scene, known as the ‘Adoration of the Kings’, is one of the iconic images of the life of Jesus. In various examples of the 15th century and later, one of the kings is often shown as a black African ruler. In this image he carries a horn, the usual vessel for frankincense, which represents divinity. Gold and myrrh represent kingship and death. These goods were all part of the ancient trade with Arabia and Africa.
A missal was a service book containing texts necessary for the performance of the Mass. This missal was a sumptuous manuscript, clearly not produced under constraints of time and expense. The border has a ground of burnished gold on which are conventional sprays of acanthus and stylized flowers in rich blues, reds, ochres and greens. The initial contains a scene showing the three kings (or Magi) presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the birth of the infant Jesus. The scene, known as the ‘Adoration of the Kings’, is one of the iconic images of the life of Jesus. In various examples of the 15th century and later, one of the kings is often shown as a black African ruler. In this image he carries a horn, the usual vessel for frankincense, which represents divinity. Gold and myrrh represent kingship and death. These goods were all part of the ancient trade with Arabia and Africa.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Leaf from the Giltlingen Missal (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | |
| Brief description | Leaf from the Giltlingen Missal, illumination attributed to Conrad Wagner, Augsburg, ca. 1485-1489. |
| Physical description | Leaf with historiated 10-line initial showing the Adoration of the Magi (Balthazar is depicted as a black king) and, in the border, the Baptism of Christ and the Wedding at Cana. This marks the beginning of the Feast of the Epiphany. Text: Rubric: In Epiphania Domini. A....dnator Dominus et renum; Infra octava Epiphanye nisi festum occurant discuntur hee orationes secunda. Deus qui salutis 32 lines; 2 cols. |
| Dimensions |
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| Production type | Unique |
| Gallery label | Page from a German Illuminated Manuscript
This manuscript shows the Three Kings presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh to the infant Jesus. The African king carries a horn, the usual vessel for frankincense, which represents divinity. Gold and myrrh represent kingship and death. These goods were all part of the ancient trade with Arabia and Africa.(October 2001) |
| Object history | From a missal made for Johannes von Giltlingen, abbot of the monastery of St Ulrich and St Afra in Augsburg from 1482 to 1496. The manuscript was broken up sometime before 1852. This leaf was purchased from J. and S. Goldschmidt as part of three portfolios (now Museum nos 234-296) designated as a 'Illuminations: a collection of 338 specimens, pages and cuttings' for the total sum of £100.0.0, received on 15 October 1872; passed on for Register in April 1874 (see Register of Drawings). A duplicate number MS.424 was assigned to this object in error and was subsequently cancelled. Cuttings from the same manuscript in other collections 17 other leaves are known: ten in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, one in the Houghton Library at Harvard University, three in the Plimpton Collection at Columbia University and three in private collections. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Literary reference | Missal |
| Summary | Conrad Wagner, who illuminated this page, was among the brethren of the rich monastery of Saints Afra and Ulrich in Augsburg. The chronicle of the abbey describes him as ‘bonus illuminista’ and as ‘diversis artibus...instructus’ (‘a good illuminator’, skilful in many arts’). He was said to have produced several books, including this missal for Johann von Giltlingen, who was abbot of the monastery between 1482 and 1496. A missal was a service book containing texts necessary for the performance of the Mass. This missal was a sumptuous manuscript, clearly not produced under constraints of time and expense. The border has a ground of burnished gold on which are conventional sprays of acanthus and stylized flowers in rich blues, reds, ochres and greens. The initial contains a scene showing the three kings (or Magi) presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the birth of the infant Jesus. The scene, known as the ‘Adoration of the Kings’, is one of the iconic images of the life of Jesus. In various examples of the 15th century and later, one of the kings is often shown as a black African ruler. In this image he carries a horn, the usual vessel for frankincense, which represents divinity. Gold and myrrh represent kingship and death. These goods were all part of the ancient trade with Arabia and Africa. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 274:2 |
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| Record created | November 15, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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