Sacred Leaves Manuscript Collection

The history of the book collection at USF illustrates broad concepts in the history of the Western book, beginning with the manuscript era and moving through the invention of the printing press, the mechanization of printing, and the development of the fine press and the artist’s book. This digital collection highlights illuminated manuscripts including individual leaves that illustrate different types of calligraphic hands and illumination, most dating from the medieval period. Items in this collection are only available online; we do not have physical copies of these items in the USF Library's Special Collections. The original items were returned to the donor.

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Leaf Opening Vespers, Hours of the Virgin, Bruges, Netherlands, Recto

Unknown

Vespers was recited at early evening, and this text was often accompanied in Book of Hours by illustrations of the Flight into Egypt, or the Massacre of the Innocents. It was characteristic of the miniaturist Willem Vreland to use the latter as his subject in illustrating the opening to Vespers.
Leaf Opening Vespers, Hours of the Virgin, Bruges, Netherlands, Verso

Unknown

Vespers was recited at early evening, and this text was often accompanied in Book of Hours by illustrations of the Flight into Egypt, or the Massacre of the Innocents. It was characteristic of the miniaturist Willem Vreland to use the latter as his subjec
Leaf with O Intemerata Prayer, Bruges, Southern Netherlands, Recto

Unknown

This leaf contains the beginning part of the O intemerata (O immaculate virgin) prayer addressing the Virgin Mary. This prayer was most commonly found in Books of Hours, the comparable lay version of the liturgical Breviary.
Leaf with O Intemerata Prayer, Bruges, Southern Netherlands, Verso

Unknown

This leaf contains the beginning part of the O intemerata (O immaculate virgin) prayer addressing the Virgin Mary. This prayer was most commonly found in Books of Hours, the comparable lay version of the liturgical Breviary.
Bifolium from a Breviary, Use of Rome, Italy, Verso A

Unknown

This portable Breviary developed during the rise of mendicant monastic Orders in the thirteenth century. This bifolium is an example of the single-volume portable Breviary common during the late Middle Ages. In addition, the minimal decoration further suggests its use by a poor cleric.
Bifolium from a Breviary, Use of Rome, Italy, Verso B

Unknown

This portable Breviary developed during the rise of mendicant monastic Orders in the thirteenth century. This bifolium is an example of the single-volume portable Breviary common during the late Middle Ages. In addition, the minimal decoration further suggests its use by a poor cleric.
Leaf Ending Prime and Opening Terce, Hours of the Virgin, Rheims, France, Recto

Unknown

The Hours of Prime and Terce coincided roughly with our hours of six and nine a.m. The one large decorated initial beginning the capitulum Hec est virgo helps to identify the prayer sequence. The use of Psalm 117, combined with this Hymn sequence, the antiphon O Admirable, and capitulum Hec est virgo, confirm that this manuscript was made for Rheims.
Leaf Ending Prime and Opening Terce, Hours of the Virgin, Rheims, France, Verso

Unknown

The Hours of Prime and Terce coincided roughly with our hours of six and nine a.m. The acanthus vine border decoration with flowers and fruits encased inside medallions on colored grounds, is an innovation of late fifteenth century French illumination, and the style is also consistent with Rheims.
Leaf from a Breviary, Use of Angers, France, Recto

Unknown

This humble Breviary lacks any extensive decoration, indicating its probable use by a poor cleric. Some of the rubrics, rather than being written in red ink, are written in black ink and underlined in red.
Leaf from a Breviary, Use of Angers, France, Verso

Unknown

This humble Breviary lacks any extensive decoration, indicating its probable use by a poor cleric. Some of the rubrics, rather than being written in red ink, are written in black ink and underlined in red.
Leaf from a Missal, Italy, Recto

Unknown

The recto of the leaf seen here begins the feast day of St. Lawrence on August 10, indicating it came from the Sanctoral section of a Missal. This leaf depicts St. Lawrence in the historiated initial C. His attributes include a gridiron, representing his grisly martyrdom, and a quill, symbolizing the role he played in the preservation of the Early Church's documents.
Leaf from a Missal, Italy, Verso

Unknown

Continues with the service for the feast day of St. Lawrence on August 10th.
Leaf from a Psalter, Germany, Recto

Unknown

This octavo-sized portable Psalter features Psalm 68, referred to as the Salva me (Save me) poem, which addresses the sufferings of Jesus during His Life. In addition to the rubric at the beginning of the Psalm, the large and heavily decorated initial S further serves as an organization tool by acting as a chapter heading.
Leaf from a Psalter, Germany, Verso

Unknown

This octavo-sized portable Psalter features Psalm 68, referred to as the Salva me (Save me) poem, which addresses the sufferings of Jesus during His Life.
Leaf from Litany, Paris, France, Recto

Unknown

This leaf lists male saints. St. Dionysius, St. Arnulf, and St. Louis are all listed, and their inclusion is congruent with Parisian use. The border has gold vines and leaves with blue and red flowers. The design was traced once on one side and mirrored on the other.
Leaf from Litany, Paris, France, Verso

Unknown

This leaf lists female saints. The border has gold vines and leaves with blue and red flowers. The design was traced once on one side and mirrored on the other.
Leaf from the Hours of Catherine, France, Recto

Unknown

This leaf is from an entire sequence of Hours dedicated to Saint Catherine, the patron saint of nurses, maidens, millers, students, wheelwrights and philosophers.
Leaf from the Hours of Catherine, France, Verso

Unknown

This leaf is from an entire sequence of Hours dedicated to Saint Catherine, the patron saint of nurses, maidens, millers, students, wheelwrights and philosophers.
Leaf Opening Compline, Hours of the Virgin, France, Recto

Unknown

The Coronation of Mary is usually depicted with Mary kneeling while an angel places a crown on her head. This particular leaf is unusual because there is no angel crowning her or standing beside her. Instead, angels watch and pray in the background as Mary kneels in front of God the Father.
Leaf Opening Compline, Hours of the Virgin, France, Verso

Unknown

This leaf is in a style typical of manuscripts illuminated in Paris and Rouen in the late fifteenth century.
Leaf Opening Terce, Hours of the Virgin, France, Recto

Unknown

The top of the text has a red rubric, Ad Tertiam, which identifies the text as Terce. The Hour of Terce follows the Hour of Prime. Terce was typically recited in the morning and illustrated with the Annunciation to the Shepherds. The opening versicle and response of Terce are the same as that of Lauds, Prime, Sext and Vespers, and they read, in translation: "Incline unto my aid, O God. Lord make haste to help me."
Leaf Opening Terce, Hours of the Virgin, France, Verso

Unknown

Sixteen pages with single columns of black text each with two sizes of typeface, capital letters and decoration in red throughout. Woodblock (9 x 7) on first page depicting the crucifixion with the inscription "vere filius erat iste" (truly this was the s
Leaf with Ancillary Prayers, France, Recto

Unknown

Beyond the standard content in a Book of Hours a patron would sometimes wish to include additional prayers of intercession. These ancillary prayers could include indulgences or additional prayers to the Virgin Mary or local patron saints. Ancillary prayers show how Books of Hours could be personalized to match individual requests. This leaf features two such prayers.
Leaf with Ancillary Prayers, France, Verso

Unknown

Beyond the standard content in a Book of Hours a patron would sometimes wish to include additional prayers of intercession. These ancillary prayers could include indulgences or additional prayers co the Virgin Mary or local patron saints. Ancillary prayers show how Books of Hours could be personalized to match individual requests. This leaf features two such prayers.