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MS. Bodl. 883

Summary Catalogue no.: 3076

Contents

Jean Mallart, Chemin de Paradis
Rubric: Le Chemin de Paradis

(fol 1v) 'Oraison a Dieu'

(fol. 7v) 'Epistre au Roy', King Henry VIII

(fol. 10v) 'Aux lecteurs'

(fol. 18v) The first book of the poem

All in verse

The text is discussed by Richard Cooper, 'Jean Mallard, poète et peintre rouennais', in J.-C. Arnould and T. Mantovani (eds.), Première poésie française de la Renaissance: autour des Puys poétiques normands (2003), pp. 193-213 at pp. 205-9.

Language(s): Middle French

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: ii + 80 leaves
Dimensions (binding): 10.75 × 7.625 in.

Hand(s)

Humanistic script

Decoration

Written and illuminated by Jean Mallart, 'poete et orateur francois' (French Poet and Orator) to Henry VIII. He received payments in 1540–1541. Pächt and Alexander iii. 1330, Pl. CXX

Fine miniatures.

  • Fol. 1v. In landscape, Jean Mallart dressed in black is seated on rocks to the right, has a hand on an open book and holds quill in the other. Decorated lectern to the left with open book. God the Father wearing papal tiara and holding an orb and cross appears in the clouds.
  • Fol. 10v. In landscape, the poet Jean Mallart has fallen on side of a path, monogram on his chest ('H'? and 'R'), his hat on the ground. Eyes closed. In background, church with cemetery where naked figure (ghost) stands by a tomb. Gold initial 'A(pres)' on red panel.
  • Fol. 18r. Crossroads to Heaven and Hell - Last Judgement. In foreground, naked souls of the damned are being lead by demons into fiery red mouth of hell. Soul met at crossroad by demon. Souls ascend the other path which goes up towards a gate, beyond which Christ blessing sits on double rainbow, with the Virgin and St. John on either side, coming out of clouds.

Fine initials

Binding

Red velvet, English contemporary work (for Henry VIII).

History

Origin: c. 1540 ; England

Provenance and Acquisition

Henry VIII: presentation copy. (J. Carley, The Libraries of Henry VIII (2000), p. xlvii)

'Liber vniuersitatis Oxon. ex dono Francisci Greuill in artibus magistri et socii Collegij Mertonensis, Octob. 11°, 1622'

Record Sources

Description adapted (March 2023, rev. Oct. 2024) by Stewart J. Brookes and Matthew Holford from the Summary Catalogue (1922) and from Pächt and Alexander (1973) with additional reference to published literature as cited.
Summary Catalogue, vol. 2, part 1, p. 584

Digital Images

Digital Bodleian (5 images from 35mm slides)

Bibliography

Abbreviations

View list of abbreviations and editorial conventions.

Last Substantive Revision

2024-10: Matthew Holford: revised origin, provenance, binding, with reference to cited literature; added description of miniatures.