MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - MA312.jpg

Category Manuscript
Origin: artist/workshop Paris
Date 13C/4
Reference No MS Add 39843, fol 6v
Size
Provenance Maubuisson Nuns' Abbey
Present Location London, British Library
Bibliography Rouse & Rouse 2000, 1:155-6

Illustration From photo - Library
Other illustrations

Country France
Description:
Full-page miniature in a manuscript entitled 'Somme le roi', a manual of moral and religious instruction composed at the behest of Philip III (1270-85) by the Dominican Laurent d'Orleans, which was formerly one manuscript together with four moral treatises at the end, now this manuscript plus MS Add 28162. The combined manuscript was made in Paris in the 1290's and belonged to the Cistercian nuns at Maubuisson. It is recorded as being there as entry No 210 in the inventory of 1463. The frontispiece of the second half (fol 1v of MS Add 39843) has an image of the 'sainte abbaie' depicting saints, the persons of the Trinity, a novice mistress instructing novices and an abbess and nun adoring the Trinity above them. The second picture (on f 6v) is a full-page miniature framed by a cut-away monastic building. In the upper register a male saint (probably Bernard) is celebrating Mass at an altar wearing a yellow chasuble. He holds the Host while the Chalice rests on the altar. He is assisted by two tonsured deacons. Behind them a nun kneels pulling the bell for the Elevation of the Host. Behind her is the abbess holding a red crozier and five more nuns all holding red Missals. The nuns are in grey cowls over white tunics, with black veils and white wimples. The lower register has a procession of nuns, headed by a young acolyte carrying a processional cross, two small nuns carrying candles, a deacon with a book, a bearded saint in a blue chasuble (Bernard) followed by five nuns carrying open processionals in which the words of Ps 47:10, the Introit for Candlemass, can be read. At the rear is the abbess carrying a red crozier.