MEDIEVAL IMAGES OF SAINT BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX - MA419.jpg

Category Manuscript
Origin: artist/workshop
Date 15C/1
Reference No MS 218, f 79
Size
Provenance English Carmelite friary?
Present Location Nottingham, University Library (on loan from Lincoln Cathedral Library)
Bibliography PL184:465; Woolley 1927, 155-7; Thomson 1989, 177-9

Illustration From photo - Lincoln Cathedral Library
Other illustrations

Country England
Description:
An English manuscript from c 1400 has a series of devotions to Mary, Joachim and Anne, the work of Richard Rolle, a florelegium of moral sententiae with the authors quoted being Augustine, Gregory, Bernard, Jerome, 'Prosper' (Julianus Pomerius), Cicero, 'Clemes papa', 'Philosophus', Macrobius, Isodore, Bede, Cyprian, Ambrose, Anselm, Origen, Seneca, Caesarius, John Chrysostom, and Leo, and here, at the beginning of pseudo-Bernard Meditationes, introduced in red with the words 'hic incipit meditationes beati Bernardi' a most unusual figure of Bernard seated, wearing a hat and a red cloak over a green garment and holding a scroll with the opening words of the text which begins 'Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt. Alios inspiciunt, et se ipsos deserunt' (Many know many things and do not know themselves. They despise others and love themselves). The artist has evidently not been aware of any of the usual attributes associated with Bernard. The appearance of Carmelite friars elsewhere in the manuscript suggests that the book may have been made for an English Carmelite community. See also MA418.