The Mystery of the Holy Grail

The Holy Grail first appeared ca. 1190 in Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes (ca. 1140–90)
It is traditionally a chalice used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper and by Joseph of Arimathea to collect his blood after the Crucifixion
The ten specimens at hand represent some of the finest works from the medieval Grail tradition

The Mystery of the Holy Grail

Description

The Mystery of the Holy Grail

The Holy Grail is one of the most prominent motifs of Arthurian literature and enjoyed widespread popularity throughout medieval Europe. Although traditionally associated with a chalice that was used by Jesus Christ at the Last Supper and perhaps by Joseph of Arimathea to collect his blood after the Crucifixion, the term has come to be synonymous with the search for an object that is either elusive or of great significance. After first being introduced by Chrétien de Troyes in an unfinished romance, the Holy Grail has appeared in the Arthurian tales of other authors. The Holy Grail has been alternately described as a bowl, dish, or stone in these versions. Fascination with the Holy Grail continues to this day, with popular conspiracies connecting it to the Knights Templar, Cathars, and various secret societies.

The Mystery of the Holy Grail

The legend of King Arthur was one of the most popular and influential in medieval Europe. The mythical monarch supposedly led the resistance of the native Britons against the invading Saxons in the 5th and 6th centuries. There are countless folktales associated with Arthur, but the most authoritative version was written by Geoffrey of Monmouth and included in his History of the Kings of Britain, written in the 1130’s. Arthur and his famous Knights of the Round Table became paragons of chivalry during the Middle Ages, and manuscripts with Arthurian legends often contain detailed depictions of medieval court culture, making them valuable cultural-historical sources. One of the common themes was their quest for the Holy Grail, an object of even greater mythical and symbolic value than the residents of Camelot, which first appeared ca. 1190 in Perceval, the Story of the Grail by Chrétien de Troyes (ca. 1140–90) Arthurian legends enjoyed a resurgence in popularity during the 19th and 20th centuries, inspiring various modern adaptations as well as organizations promoting Arthur as an exemplar of behavior in the modern world. The ten specimens at hand represent some of the finest works of art from this medieval literary tradition:

Leaf 1: Lancelot and Gallehaut at the castle of the “Isle Perdue”
Romance Guiron le Courtois
Bodlein Library, Ms. Douce 383
Ghent/Bruges, 1450–1485

Leaf 2: Merlin's Birth and Baptism
Merlin romance by Guillaume de la Pierre
1480–1485

Leaf 3: Knights at the Round Table
Manuscript of the Holy Grail of Jacques d'Armagnac
Bibliothèque nationale de Paris, Ms. Fr. 112
France, ca. 1470

Leaf 4: King Arthur as a Good Host
Romance Guiron le Courtois
Bibliothèque nationale de Paris, Ms. Fr. 363
Flanders, ca. 1470

Leaf 5: Wedding of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere
Chroniques de Hainaut
Bibliothèque Royale de Belgique, Ms. 9243
Belgium, 1450–1468

Leaf 6: Galahad is Knighted
Tristan romance
Bibliothèque nationale de Paris, Ms. Fr. 99
France, 1463

Leaf 7: Meliades Meets the King of Scotland
Romance Guiron le Courtois
Bibliothèque nationale de Paris, Ms. Fr. 356
Paris, ca. 1450

Leaf 8: Lancelot and Guinevere
Romance of Lancelot du Lac
Pierpont Morgan Library, MS 805
Northern France, early 14th century

Sheet 9: Parzival, Kondwiramur and Feirefiz
Wolfram von Eschenbach: Parzival
Bavarian State Library, Cgm 19
Probably Swabia, 1250–1270

Leaf 10: The Knights Return from Battle
The younger Titurel
Bavarian State Library, Cgm 8470
Probably Tyrol, 1425–1450

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Kassette Das Geheimnis des Grals
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Origin: France
Date: 13th–15th century
Epochs: High Middle Ages
Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Gothic
Renaissance
Genre: Single Leaf Collections
Language: Latin
French
Illustrations: 10 miniatures
Content: Ten leaves from important manuscripts

Available facsimile editions:

Detail Picture

The Mystery of the Holy Grail

Parzival and Kondwiramur

Set against a bright blue background, this scene from a manuscript of Wolfram von Eschenbach's “Parzival”, created between 1250 and 1270, probably shows the first, momentous meeting of Parzival, on the red horse on the left, and Kondwiramur, on the dark horse on the right. The two fall in love at first sight, whereupon Parzival decides to come to her aid. Parzival fights the troops besieging Kondwiramur's city and saves the princess from a forced marriage.

Single Page

The Mystery of the Holy Grail

Knights at the Round Table

This magnificent, gold-decorated leaf from the so-called Manuscript of the Holy Grail of Jacques d'Armagnac shows one of the best-preserved medieval depictions of the Round Table. 21 kings and knights in fur-trimmed cloaks sit gesticulating at a ring-shaped table. Carried by two angels, the Holy Grail has just emerged from the gap in the middle of the round table, appearing to radiate a golden light. The large golden vessel in the shape of a bulbous ciborium is set with impressive gemstones. Despite this, Lancelot, who is particularly distinguished by a green canopy directly above him, seems unimpressed by the spectacle - he looks stately at his fellows.

As Count of Pardiac and Duke of Nemours, Jacques d'Armagnac (1433–1477) was one of the most important book collectors of the Late Middle Ages. No surprise as the great-grandson of the famous Duke Jean de Berry. Around 1470, he commissioned his scribe Michel Gonnot to compile a manuscript summarizing the content of the various Arthurian romances in circulation. His artistic realization of the courtly subject is now in the Bibliothèque nationale de Paris under the signature Ms. Fr. 112.

Facsimile Editions

#1 Kassette Geheimnis des Grals

Coron Verlag – Gütersloh, 2004

Publisher: Coron Verlag – Gütersloh, 2004

Limited Edition: 1995 copies

Binding: Leaves in an exclusively designed presentation case (dimensions ca. 52 x 38 x 7 cm). Cover adorned with the motif “The Round Table of Winchester Castle, Great Hall”

Commentary: 1 volume
Language: German

Facsimile Copy Available!

Price Category: €
(under 1,000€)

Inquire current price here or ask a different question

You might also be interested in:

Round Table

Italy – 1446

The legends of King Arthur in the context of the Renaissance: 289 fascinating pen and ink drawings full of dynamism and detail, created for a high-ranking member of the Visconti court

Experience More

The Golden Calendar – Coron Verlag – Several Owners

The Golden Calendar (Collection)

Paris (France); Bruges (Belgium) and others – 15th–16th century

From the most elaborate calendars of the late heyday of book illumination: typical labors of the month and idyllic landscapes in a breathtaking collection of 13 gorgeous calendar miniatures from the 15th and 16th centuries

Experience More

Quest for the Holy Grail

France – Ca. 1450–1460

Parzival and the knights of Camelot in search of the Holy Grail: the fifth and last Arthurian novel by Chrétien de Troyes in a splendidly colored 15th century illuminated manuscript

Experience More

Pearl Manuscript

London or Cheshire (England) – Second half of the 14th century

Illuminated by the author himself: four unique world-class English Arthurian poems, preserved solely in this manuscript and illustrated with 12 intriguing full-page miniatures

Experience More

Quest for the Holy Grail and Death of King Arthur

France – July 4, 1470

Criticism of monarchy and an ideal image of late medieval chivalry in a classic of courtly literature: an extraordinary compilation of the legendary tales surrounding the Holy Grail and King Arthur

Experience More

Winchester Manuscript

England – Ca. 1471–1483

The complete Arthurian legend by Sir Thomas Malory, only rediscovered in 1934 by the Rector of Winchester College: the sole surviving manuscript of Le Morte d'Arthur and closer to the original than all printed editions

Experience More

Blog articles worth reading