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Source Description

This deluxe version of Gratian's Decretum was created ca. 1280-90, most likely in Hainaut. The lively decoration of the manuscript indicates a marked taste for narrative, and there are thirty-seven historiated initials. The gloss work was completed by Bartholomew of Brescia. At first, Paris would seem to be the most likely place of origin, given that it was the leading center for the study of canon law. However, this particular manuscript exhibits scribal features that suggest its place of origin as being the Cistercian abbey of Cambron in Hainaut. Furthermore, Abbot Baudouin de Bousso, whose tenure at the abbey was from 1283 to 1293, was schooled in theology at the University of Paris, and he would eventually endorse the production of many fine manuscripts while at Cambron. In fact, the catalyst for this endeavor seems to have been the Beaupré Antiphonary (W.759-761), which was was created at Cambron during the 1280s.Stylistic features of W.133 seem to have connections with the Beaupré Antiphonary. For example, Cistercian monks are shown in three extant illuminations throughout three of the antiphonary volumes; these monks are pictured in brown habits similar to the type worn by clerics in W.133. The reliance upon Cistercian precedents for textual and design features associates W.133 with the Cistercian abbey at Cambron. However, more remains to be confirmed by further inspection of the output of the scriptorium at Cambron.

Scholar Source Context

Document identity
localId
18437
label
Gratian's Decretum
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
6
Source metadata
id
18437
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Gratian's Decretum
description
This deluxe version of Gratian's Decretum was created ca. 1280-90, most likely in Hainaut. The lively decoration of the manuscript indicates a marked taste for narrative, and there are thirty-seven historiated initials. The gloss work was completed by Bartholomew of Brescia. At first, Paris would seem to be the most likely place of origin, given that it was the leading center for the study of canon law. However, this particular manuscript exhibits scribal features that suggest its place of origin as being the Cistercian abbey of Cambron in Hainaut. Furthermore, Abbot Baudouin de Bousso, whose tenure at the abbey was from 1283 to 1293, was schooled in theology at the University of Paris, and he would eventually endorse the production of many fine manuscripts while at Cambron. In fact, the catalyst for this endeavor seems to have been the Beaupré Antiphonary (W.759-761), which was was created at Cambron during the 1280s.Stylistic features of W.133 seem to have connections with the Beaupré Antiphonary. For example, Cistercian monks are shown in three extant illuminations throughout three of the antiphonary volumes; these monks are pictured in brown habits similar to the type worn by clerics in W.133. The reliance upon Cistercian precedents for textual and design features associates W.133 with the Cistercian abbey at Cambron. However, more remains to be confirmed by further inspection of the output of the scriptorium at Cambron.
provenance
Possibly owned by Pedro Álvarez de Osorio, Marqués de Astorga [d. 1589]. Possibly owned by José María Osorio de Moscoso y Carvajal-Vargas, Marqués de Astorga, mid 19th century; Sale, Paris, May 7 1870, lot 14. Ambroise Firmin-Didot, Paris, 1870s; Sale, Paris, May 29 1879, part 2 lot 38. ""F. Liechtenstein Bibliothek"" [1]. Acquired by William Morris, England, 1896 [2]; Sale, London, 1898, lot 558; purchased by Quaritch, London, 1898. Acquired by Laurence W. Hodson, Wolverhampton, England [3]; Sotheby's Sale, London, December 4 1906; purchased by Quaritch, London, 1906. Purchased by Henry Walters, Baltimore, early 20th century; by bequest to Walters Art Museum, 1931.[1] Ex libris stamp at bottom of fol. 1r[2] Bookplate at top of front pastedown, inscription at top of first flyleaf ""William Morris, June 26th 1896, Folkestone[3] Bookplate at bottom of front pastedown
date
ca. 1280-1290 (Gothic)
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
illuminated manuscripts
imageCount
6
pageCount
6
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
42
height
27.5
dimensionsRaw
Folio H: 16 9/16 × W: 10 13/16 in. (42 × 27.5 cm)
Source extras
med
ink and pigments on parchment bound between boards covered with leather
creator_ids
6505
2590
6197
collection_ids
MED
MSS
exhibition_ids
270
101
2405
115
91
2289
683
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
00ea219611552022
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
adf92817787dc0c4
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
3
type
photo
mediaId
c610240c5a2b3ec9
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
4
type
photo
mediaId
7299ce4f91e37299
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
5
type
photo
mediaId
acb4544f9c422c49
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
6
type
photo
mediaId
3b053b347b106bf0
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no