Book of Hours (Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

Stirps Jesse and Sancta Maria, succure miseris

F-xelu

Utopia, armarium codicum bibliophilorum, Private Collection, Canada, Fr.G1-2

General Information

Title Book of Hours (Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Material Parchment
Place of Origin Paris, France

Original Condition

Numbering

p. 52

Current Condition

Dimensions 155 x 110 mm

Book Decoration and Musical Notation

Description

The illuminations are concentrated on the recto, including a marginal panel containing hairline vines with gold ivy, acanthus leaves, a blue flower, and a strawberry. Strawberries (by virtue of their absence of thorns, rinds, pips, or stones) were often used as symbols of the pure sweetness of the Virgin. The letter S on the bottom of the page is also illuminated with lapis, red pigment, and gold. Response and versicle symbols are denoted in red. On the verso is a smear of red pigment.

Content

  • Content Item
    • Content Description

      The recto contains Stirps Jesse (spelled here as “iesse”), a chant that was sung during the Feast of Mary’s Nativity. This side also includes the beginnings of a Marian prayer (Sancta Maria, succure miseris), which continues throughout the verso. A partial indulgence was attached to this prayer. Both Stirps Jesse and Sancta Maria, succure miseris were written by Bishop Fulbert of Chartres (c.960-1028).

History

Origin

The leaf appears to have been produced, or at least intended for use, in Paris. This is evidenced by a March calendar leaf from the same book of hours (likewise sold by Pirages), wherein the feast day of Pope Innocent I is listed as March 14. While the medieval feast of Pope Innocent was often celebrated on July 28 from the thirteenth century onward, it was celebrated in Paris on March 14.

Bibliography