Leaf for a Mass during the Passion of Christ from a Missal, Umbria, ca.1320-1330.

Leaf, from a Missal, that introduced a Mass celebrated during the Passion of Christ (during the week before Easter) probably made in Umbria, ca. mid-late 14th century. Double-sided. Text written in black ink with red rubrics (a title, chapter heading, or instruction that is not strictly part of the text but helps to identify it). Colour pigments, gold leaf, andf ink.

This leaf introduces the text from the Gospel of St. Mark (14:1), whcih is the first part of the history of the Passion of Christ; used during Holy Week (the week before Easter Sunday).

Two columns of text, written in Southern Gothic Textualis script, are separated with the historiated initial in the left margin. Winding marginalia (wirings or decorations in the margins of a manuscript) composed of foliate forms, painted in coloured pigments and burnished gold leaf (gold paint that has been polished to shine) descend and extend from the initial.

Recto: One historiated initial 'I' shows St. Mark standing beside the opening line of the text from his gospel. His right hand is raised in a blessing gesture as he looks out at the viewer. He stands atop a lion, which is his Evangelical symbol - this futher helps to identify him.

Verso: Two text columns written in black ink (in Southern Gothic Textualis script) with red rubrics. One red initial 'P' with blue penwork (fine, linear embelishment). One blue initial 'A' with red penwork. One red initial 'O' with blue penwork. One blue initial 'I' with red penwork.

St. Mark stand with his Evangelist symbol (the lion)

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.

This leaf (cutting) is from a Missal (a service book containing the texts necessary for the performance of the Mass together with ceremonial directions)

1494