Images(3)

Homilies of Saint Gregory on the Book of Ezekiel

Pope Gregory I (about 540–604)

mid-13th century

Medium/TechniqueTempera and ink on parchment; bindings of calfskin over boards, with leather bands

DimensionsOverall (page dimensions): 33.7 x 23 cm (13 1/4 x 9 1/16 in.)
Other (writing space): 8.6 x 6.3 cm (3 3/8 x 2 1/2 in.)
Other (intercolumnar space): 1 cm (3/8 in.)

Credit LineDenman Waldo Ross Collection

Accession number06.138

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ClassificationsBooks and manuscripts

Collections

Europe

Inscriptionsf. 117: Liber sancte marie regalis montes/ Iste liber de fuit de armaris domini regisProvenanceMid-thirteenth century, probably written at the royal Cistercian abbey of Royaumont for King Louis IX [see note 1]; 1791, documented at the Abbey of Royaumont [see note 2]; 1806, acquired by Charles Chardin (bookseller; b. 1742 - d. 1826), Paris [see note 3]; February 9 - March 22, 1824, Chardin sale, Debure Frères, Hôtel de Bullion, Paris, lot 223, sold to J.-P. Aillaud, probably for Sir Thomas Phillipps (b. 1792 - d. 1872), Cheltenham, England [see note 4]; June 10-17, 1896, posthumous Phillipps sale, Sotheby's, London, lot 117, to Quaritch, Ltd., London [see note 5]; probably sold by Quaritsch through Edward Waldo Forbes to Denman Waldo Ross (b. 1853 - d. 1935), Cambridge, MA; 1906, gift of Denman Waldo Ross to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 8, 1906)

NOTES:
[1] Two thirteenth-century inscriptions on f. 117 read: "Liber s[an]c[ta]e Mariae Regalis Montis," which can be found in other manuscripts originating at Royaumont; and "Iste liber de fuit de armario domini regis" ("This book is from the cabinet of the lord King").

[2] The abbey at Royaumont was dissolved in 1791. An inventory drawn up at that time lists the present manuscript under no. 44. See M. Huglo, "La dispersion des manuscrits de Royaumont," Revue Benedictine 113 (2003): pp. 379-380.

[3] Huglo 2003 (as above, n. 2), pp. 370 and 390. In Chardin's catalogue of 1811, this was cat. no. 47. There is also a pencil notation inside front cover.

[4] Huglo, p. 390. Phillipps lion rampant stamp on front flyleaf and notation "Phillipps Ms 766" on flyleaf verso.

[5] Ross acquired other manuscript leaves from Quaritsch through Forbes.