Vatican Pontifical and Benedictional

Vatican Pontifical and Benedictional

This magnificent manuscript combines the contents of two liturgical books, the performance of which was reserved for the bishop. The first and most densely illuminated part – fols. 1r-60r – is the Benedictional. It contains the textual basis for various benedictions or blessings that were offered by the bishop during mass on various feast days. The second, far more extensive part is a Pontifical (fol. 60v-167v). It provides the procedures and associated texts of episcopal rituals such as the consecration of the altar or the coronation of a king.

Valuable Glimpses Into the Late Medieval Liturgy

The manuscript thus gives us a comprehensive insight into the liturgy of the late Middle Ages in northern France – both in terms of its content, the selection and performance of the rituals and blessings, as well as their illumination. In addition to key events of Christian salvation history, some miniatures in the pontifical also depict contemporary liturgical scenes. They provide a rare impression of the furnishing of church interiors at the time, for example with textiles and liturgical vessels, of the different garments of the clergy in particular, but also the procedures of individual rituals such as the ordination of priests, the consecration of monks and nuns or the consecration of a queen.

Gold and Silver Shining Illumination

The rich illumination of the manuscript is very special for the time of its creation. While liturgical books in the Early and High Middle Ages had the most splendid illuminations, this trend declined sharply towards the 15th century. The Vatican Pontifical and Benedictional, however, contains not only ten almost full-page and 25 smaller miniatures, but also hundreds of differently sized, mostly gold-embellished decorated initials as well as numerous artful borders, which often frame entire pages with their geometric and floral patterns and are particularly ornate. The layout of the pages with large miniatures, which are accompanied by a few lines of text with a large initial and a wide border frame, is remarkably reminiscent of contemporary books of hours rather than liturgical manuscripts.

A Royal Gift

This opulent masterpiece was probably created around 1480/90 by the so-called Master of Jacques de Besançon (fl. around 1475–1495/1500) and his Parisian workshop on behalf of the French royal court. This is indicated by the Valois coat of arms and the numerous fleurs de lys. The French King Charles VIII (1470–1498) is therefore a possible patron. The manuscript probably served him as a precious gift to the Archbishop of Rouen, as indicated by some aspects of its content. The Vatican Pontifical and Benedictional was therefore intended either for Guillaume d'Estouteville (c. 1403–1483) or his successor Robert de Croismare (c. 1445–1493) and was most likely used in Rouen Cathedral.