Illuminated Manuscript Miniature depicting the Mass of St. Gregory
"Sanctus gregorius doctor egregius romane sancte ecclesie"
VIVID DEPICTION OF ICONIC SCENE FROM THE LIFE OF GREGORY THE GREAT.
This richly-illustrated manuscript leaf from a late medieval book of hours depicts the miraculous Mass of St Gregory, during which Christ appeared to the congregation during a Mass of which Gregory the Great was the celebrant.
The folio begins with the conclusion of the Collect for St. Nicholas, with the bottom of the page announcing the following section “De sancto gregorio” [On Saint Gregory]. The petition to Gregory that follows on the verso is accompanied by a magnificent miniature of one of the most esteemed subjects in late medieval art: the Mass of St Gregory.
Manifested in a number of varying accounts, the legend maintains that, upon a congregant doubting the presence of Christ during the preparing of Communion (sometimes identified as an elderly parishioner and sometimes as the “doubting deacon” to Gregory’s side), Christ appeared at the altar in the form of the Man of Sorrows – thus epitomising the act of transubstantiation for all to see.
Before Christ, Gregory can be seen kneeling in prayer, and the tricrown is held behind him as a representation of papal authority – also denoted by his vivid blue vestments. A golden frame, with an engrailed upper arched boarder, expands out from the vaulted chapel ceiling depicted within and encompasses the entire miniature. Gold filagree ornaments the red and blue altar frontal and the robes of the ecclesiastic figures, each in mauve gowns and vestments of (from left to right) red, blue and slate grey.
The leaf’s border is replete with ornamental foliate decoration and an anthropomorphic creature flaunting around in human clothes. Among the acanthus leaves are a variety of flowers including what appear to be poppies and strawberries.
[ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT LEAF]. Miniature depicting the Mass of St. Gregory. c.s.xvex/xviin. Leaf: 10.7 cm x 7.7 cm (miniature = 5.4 cm x 4cm; leaf with mounting: 29.8 cm x 21.8 cm). Very minimal warping of the page near the bottom on the left side. A bright and vividly-coloured illustration of an iconic scene in a Church Father’s life.
Transcription:
(Initials in bold are illuminated; text in italics is rubricated; text between square brackets is the expansion of an abbreviation.)
{recto} mabilem exhibuit V[ersiculus]. Ora pro nobis beate nicholae.
R[esponsorium] Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus [Christi].
Or[ati]o DEus qui beatum nicholaum pontificem tuum innumeris decorasti miraculis tribue quesumus ut eius meritis [et] precibus a gehenne incendus liberemur. Per [Christum] domunu[m] nostrum. Amen.
De sancto gregorio.
{verso} Sanctus gregorius doctor egregius romane sancte ecclesie. et le {end of folio}
Translation:
{recto} Versicle: Pray for us, blessed Nicholas.
Response: That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Prayer: O Lord, who bestowed your blessed pontiff Nicholas with innumerable miracles, we beseech you that by his merits and prayers we may be freed from the burning of hell.
O God, who adorned the blessed Nicholas, thy priest, with innumerable miracles, we beseech you that, by his favours and prayers, we may from the fires of hell be freed. In the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.
Of Saint Gregory.
{verso}
Saint Gregory, eminent doctor of the Holy Roman Church….
Price: $2,900 .