Fécamp Bible
Encyclopedia
The Fécamp Bible is an illuminated
Latin Bible
. It was produced in Paris
during the third quarter of the 13th century, and belonged the collection of Henry Yates Thompson
.
The codex
contains the text of the Old
and New Testament
s, with prologues (folios 1 recto to 524 verso). The text of the Bible is followed by the "Interpretations of Hebrew Names" (folios 526 recto to 572 verso). Following the main texts, a table of Epistle
and Gospel
readings (folios 573 recto to 576 verso), and a litany
(folios 576 verso 577 recto) were added to the manuscript.
The manuscript has 578 vellum
folios. The folios are gathered into 26 quires, the majority of which have 24 folios per quire. Seven folios (ff. 71, 290, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303) were replaced in the 15th century. The folios measure 140 mm by 90 mm. The text is written in a Gothic script
in two columns and is written in area 95 mm by 60 mm. The current binding of purple velvet, with two strap-and-pin fastenings was done in the 19th century for Yates Thompson.
Each book of the Bible and the major sections of Psalms
is introduced by a large historiated initial in colors and gold. Exception are the books of Deuteronomy
, Isaiah
and Haggai
. The openings to Deuteronomy and Isaiah are on folios replaced in the 15th century (folios 71 and 301). Folio 301 has large decorated initials at the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. The Book of Haggai has large 13th century flourished initial (folio 391v). In all there 79 extant large historiated initials. The beginnings of the prologues have large zoomorphic and foliate initials. The beginning of each chapter is marked by a small initial in red with blue pen flourishes or in blue with red pen flourishes.
Robert Branner
has attributed the initial in the Bible to four anonymous artists. The first artist, called "A" by Banner, painted the initial for the Genesis on folio 4 verso (see illustration). This artist also painted the initial at the beginning of the Gospel of John
in a manuscript now in the Vatican Library
(Vat. lat. 120, f. 274). The second artist, "B", painted the initials from Exodus through the Book of Isaiah
(folios 15 verso to 321 recto). This artist was related to the workshop of Pierre le Bar. The third artist, "C", painted the initials from the Book of Jeremiah
through 2 Maccabees
(folios 321 recto to 419 verso). This artist also painted a manuscript in the Vatican Library (Reg. lat. 16) and another in Paris
(Bibliothèque nationale, lat. 16082). The final artist, "D", painted the initials in the New Testament (folios 419 verso to 572 verso). This artist was related to the Mathurin atelier.
Based on the saint
s included in the litany, the manuscript was owned in the 13th century by a person associated with the Benedictine
abbey
of St. Taurinus, Evreux
, Normandy
. An unidentified French owner in the 15th century was responsible for the replacement of the follios mentioned above, and for neat marginal annotations. Henry Yates Thompson, a British manuscript collector, bought the manuscript in 1893 from Bernard Quaritch
for £30. In 1941 it was bequeathed to the British Museum by the widow of Yates Thompson.
Illuminated manuscript
An illuminated manuscript is a manuscript in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders and miniature illustrations...
Latin Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. It was produced in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during the third quarter of the 13th century, and belonged the collection of Henry Yates Thompson
Henry Yates Thompson
Henry Yates Thompson was a British newspaper proprietor and collector of illuminated manuscripts.-Life and career:...
.
The codex
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
contains the text of the Old
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...
and New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
s, with prologues (folios 1 recto to 524 verso). The text of the Bible is followed by the "Interpretations of Hebrew Names" (folios 526 recto to 572 verso). Following the main texts, a table of Epistle
Epistle
An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal didactic letter. The epistle genre of letter-writing was common in ancient Egypt as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The letters in the New Testament from Apostles to Christians...
and Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
readings (folios 573 recto to 576 verso), and a litany
Litany
A litany, in Christian worship and some forms of Jewish worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions...
(folios 576 verso 577 recto) were added to the manuscript.
The manuscript has 578 vellum
Vellum
Vellum is mammal skin prepared for writing or printing on, to produce single pages, scrolls, codices or books. It is generally smooth and durable, although there are great variations depending on preparation, the quality of the skin and the type of animal used...
folios. The folios are gathered into 26 quires, the majority of which have 24 folios per quire. Seven folios (ff. 71, 290, 299, 300, 301, 302, 303) were replaced in the 15th century. The folios measure 140 mm by 90 mm. The text is written in a Gothic script
Gothic script
Gothic script may refer to:* Blackletter* Gothic alphabet* Schwabacher...
in two columns and is written in area 95 mm by 60 mm. The current binding of purple velvet, with two strap-and-pin fastenings was done in the 19th century for Yates Thompson.
Each book of the Bible and the major sections of Psalms
Psalms
The Book of Psalms , commonly referred to simply as Psalms, is a book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bible...
is introduced by a large historiated initial in colors and gold. Exception are the books of Deuteronomy
Deuteronomy
The Book of Deuteronomy is the fifth book of the Hebrew Bible, and of the Jewish Torah/Pentateuch...
, Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
and Haggai
Book of Haggai
The Book of Haggai is a book of the Hebrew Bible or Tanak, and has its place as the antepenultimate of the Minor Prophets or the "Book of the Twelve." It is a short book, consisting of only two chapters. The historical setting dates around 520 BCE before the Temple has been rebuilt...
. The openings to Deuteronomy and Isaiah are on folios replaced in the 15th century (folios 71 and 301). Folio 301 has large decorated initials at the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. The Book of Haggai has large 13th century flourished initial (folio 391v). In all there 79 extant large historiated initials. The beginnings of the prologues have large zoomorphic and foliate initials. The beginning of each chapter is marked by a small initial in red with blue pen flourishes or in blue with red pen flourishes.
Robert Branner
Robert Branner
Robert Branner was an art historian specializing in Gothic architecture and manuscript illumination. He was born in New York, the son of cartoonist Martin Branner and Edith Fabbrini....
has attributed the initial in the Bible to four anonymous artists. The first artist, called "A" by Banner, painted the initial for the Genesis on folio 4 verso (see illustration). This artist also painted the initial at the beginning of the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
in a manuscript now in the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
(Vat. lat. 120, f. 274). The second artist, "B", painted the initials from Exodus through the Book of Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
(folios 15 verso to 321 recto). This artist was related to the workshop of Pierre le Bar. The third artist, "C", painted the initials from the Book of Jeremiah
Book of Jeremiah
The Book of Jeremiah is the second of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, following the book of Isaiah and preceding Ezekiel and the Book of the Twelve....
through 2 Maccabees
2 Maccabees
2 Maccabees is a deuterocanonical book of the Bible, which focuses on the Jews' revolt against Antiochus IV Epiphanes and concludes with the defeat of the Syrian general Nicanor in 161 BC by Judas Maccabeus, the hero of the work....
(folios 321 recto to 419 verso). This artist also painted a manuscript in the Vatican Library (Reg. lat. 16) and another in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
(Bibliothèque nationale, lat. 16082). The final artist, "D", painted the initials in the New Testament (folios 419 verso to 572 verso). This artist was related to the Mathurin atelier.
Based on the saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s included in the litany, the manuscript was owned in the 13th century by a person associated with the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of St. Taurinus, Evreux
Évreux
Évreux is a commune in the Eure department, of which it is the capital, in Haute Normandie in northern France.-History:In late Antiquity, the town, attested in the fourth century CE, was named Mediolanum Aulercorum, "the central town of the Aulerci", the Gallic tribe then inhabiting the area...
, Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. An unidentified French owner in the 15th century was responsible for the replacement of the follios mentioned above, and for neat marginal annotations. Henry Yates Thompson, a British manuscript collector, bought the manuscript in 1893 from Bernard Quaritch
Bernard Quaritch
Bernard Quaritch, full name Bernard Alexander Christian Quaritch, was a German-born British bookseller and collector....
for £30. In 1941 it was bequeathed to the British Museum by the widow of Yates Thompson.
Further reading
- Montague Rhodes James, A Descriptive Catalogue of Fifty Manuscripts from the Collection of Henry Yates Thompson (Cambridge: University Press, 1898), no. 2.
- Illustrations from One Hundred Manuscripts in the Library of Henry Yates Thompson, 7 vols (London: Chiswick Press, 1907–18), VI: Consisting of Ninety Plates Illustrating Seventeen MSS. with Dates Ranging from the XIIIth to the XVIth Century (1916), pp. 3–4, pl. XI.
- Seymour de Ricci, Les Manuscrits de la Collection Henry Yates Thompson, Extrait du Bulletin de la Société Française de Reproductions de Manuscrits à Peintures (Paris: [n. pub.], 1926), no. 2 p. 12.
- Robert Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris During the Reign of Saint Louis: A Study of Styles, California Studies in the History of Art, 18 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977), pp. 81–82, 212, 215, 220, pl. XIV, fig. 202.