New York City (NY), Columbia University - Butler Library - Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Plimpton MS 040I

Cantus Siglum

US-NYcub Plimpton MS 040I

Holding Institution

New York City (NY), Columbia University - Butler Library - Rare Book and Manuscript Library (US-NYcub)

Manuscript/Print

Manuscript

Summary

Folio from a fourteenth-century gradual originating in Siena, Italy. Square notation on 4-line ink-ruled red staves. Parchment measuring 532 x 367 mm. Written in formal gothic liturgical book hand. (Summary based on information from Digital Scriptorium 1.0)

Liturgical Occasions

Circumcisio Domini (The Circumcision of Christ), Epiphania (Epiphany). In between the chants for these two feasts are rubrics for the octaves of the feasts of Saint Stephen, Saint John the Evangelist, and the Holy Innocents. The section of rubrics concludes with instructions for the Vigil of Epiphany.

Description

Parchment, ink, pigments, and gold leaf
Liturgical Gothic book hand, attributed to the circle of Lippo Vanni

This single folio, produced in fourteenth-century Siena, preserves part of a gradual containing the end of the Mass for the Circumcision of Christ (January 1) and the beginning of the Mass for the Epiphany (January 6). The leaf is attributed to the circle of the Sienese painter Lippo Vanni, known for his ecclesiastical commissions in the region. (Information provided from Digital Scriptorium 1.0)

Folio 1r
The notational layer on this side shows more wear than the text, suggesting that the musical additions may have been added in a different ink or at a later stage. Several small X-marks (or folio numbers?) are visible above the rubricated instructions.

Folio 1v
A large historiated initial "E" depicts the three Magi bearing gifts and the oldest kissing Christ's feet. The Christ child, shown with a flaking gold halo and a brown robe, is at the center. Wearing a blue robe and parchment-colored undergarments, Mary holds the child, as the Magi, clothed in a green robe with gold trim, kiss the feet of Christ. The scene occurs in front of two royally dressed figures—likely a king and queen—set against a dark blue and red architectural background with white tracery.

The "E" has a dark blue field with white tracery, a red border with white tracery, and an outer white and brown border. The surrounding foliate scrollwork features green and gold foliage shaded with white detailing. Blue, green, white, and red floral patterns punctuated with gold roundels are scattered among the scrollwork. The psalm begins with a red and blue penwork initial.
A small blue mark is in the right margin, and a faint letter "P" (a later addition) appears in the lower right corner.

The leaf has been trimmed, leaving part of the number IX in Roman numerals.

(Description contains information from Digital Scriptorium)

Full/Partial Inventory

Full Inventory

Complete Source/Fragment

Fragment