Breviarium
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Note from Otto Ege:
The Breviary is one of the six official books used by the Roman Catholic Church in its liturgy. It is a book of prayer for the clergy, giving the directions for all of the various services of the Divine Hours throughout the year. The other five official books are the Pontifical, the Missal, the Ritual, the Martyrology, and the Ceremonial of the Bishops.
The angular script in this leaf is executed with great skill and precision. The small and vigorous black initials and the hair line details found in many of the ascenders and terminal letters indicate the work of a superior calligrapher, skilled not only in writing but also in sharpening his quill. The initials and the dorsal decorations also represent the same high standard of craftsmanship. Strangely, the rubrications do not show as great a calligraphic skill. Usually it was the task of a superior scribe to insert the rubrics or directions for conducting the service.
Minor correction in origin. According to Scott Gwara this MS fragment is from Flanders (possibly Ghent) whereas Ege marked it as originating from France.
General Information
Northern Textualis
Original Condition
Some of the writing appears to have been slightly crooked on the page
Current Condition
Where the leaf was cut at the top it crops some of the lettering and decoration. It's visible the page used to be slightly larger. Minor dirt on the edges where handled. Residual tape visible from where Ege mounted it.
Book Decoration and Musical Notation
On Recto: One decorated initial "M" in blue with red ornaments around. One inital "Q" in red with blue ornaments around, and a third blue and black initial on the right column. Several letters are more decorative or contain a floral symbol in them among the black text. Few words or letters in red. Both columns have blue and red scrollwork along the left margin. Numbers at the top in colour cropped when leaf was cut.
On Verso: One initial "D" in red on the second column with blue ornaments around. Second column has blue and red scrollwork along the left margin. Several initials are more decorative among the black text.
Bibliography
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Gwara, Scott. Otto Ege’s Manuscripts : A Study of Ege’s Manuscript Collections, Portfolios, and Retail Trade : With a Comprehensive Handlist of Manuscripts Collected or Sold. De Brailes Publishing, 2013.