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Source Description
This manuscript, written at the Cistercian abbey of Himmerode in Germany in the early thirteenth century, is one of twenty-two surviving Latin copies of the Speculum virginum, or mirror for virgins. Attributed to Conrad of Hirsau, the text was written in the first half of the twelfth century as a guide for nuns, offering them theological lessons in the form of a hypothetical conversation between a teacher, Peregrinus, and his student, Theodora. The twelve illustrations in the manuscript portray the protagonists as well as the mystical visions and diagrams they discuss in the text. The large, expressive pen drawings bring the text to life and are an excellent example of German art of this period.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
88775
label
Leaf from Speculum Virginum: Christ in Majesty Flanked by Mary, John the Evangelist, and Saints with a Kneeling Monk
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
88775
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Leaf from Speculum Virginum: Christ in Majesty Flanked by Mary, John the Evangelist, and Saints with a Kneeling Monk
description
This manuscript, written at the Cistercian abbey of Himmerode in Germany in the early thirteenth century, is one of twenty-two surviving Latin copies of the Speculum virginum, or mirror for virgins. Attributed to Conrad of Hirsau, the text was written in the first half of the twelfth century as a guide for nuns, offering them theological lessons in the form of a hypothetical conversation between a teacher, Peregrinus, and his student, Theodora. The twelve illustrations in the manuscript portray the protagonists as well as the mystical visions and diagrams they discuss in the text. The large, expressive pen drawings bring the text to life and are an excellent example of German art of this period.
provenance
Cistercian abbey of Himmerode, Wittlich, Germany, by 15th century [erased ownership note, ""Liber monachorum sancte Marie in hymmenrode ordinis Cisterciensis Treverensis dyocesis,"" fol. 1r, Shelfmark C.I.]; Josef von Görres collection, Germany, 19th century [mode of acquisition unknown]; Görres Collection Sale, Munich, 1902 [Catal.libr.mss no. 76 (no. 71 in unpublished, pre-1844 catalog of manuscripts when kept in Koblenz by Ernst Dronke)]; Julien Chappée, Le Mans and Paris, 1902, by purchase [Lot 76, p. 14]; Gruel and Engelmann Collection, Paris, 1903 [no. 88, bookplate on front pastedown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, June 9, 1903 [mode of acquisition unknown] [bookplate on front pastedown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1st quarter 13th century
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
illuminated manuscripts
folios (leaves)
imageCount
1
pageCount
1
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
31.2
height
22.8
dimensionsRaw
H: 12 5/16 x W: 9 in. (31.2 x 22.8 cm)
Source extras
med
ink and paint on cream colored parchment, medium thickness with velvety finish
creator_ids
8479
collection_ids
MSS
exhibition_ids
none
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
bfb966ce0178550e