A catalogue of Western manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and selected Oxford colleges

MS. Canon. Liturg. 326

Summary Catalogue no.: 19415

Contents

Benedictional

Combined temporale and sanctorale (fol. 4r), beginning with Christmas Eve, the feasts after Pentecost with the common of the saints (fols. 28r-39r) being inserted between the octave and the Sundays after Pentecost. The two additions (fols. 50r-3v and 54–55-1) are identical, the first seems to have belonged to another 12th cent. benedictional, the second, like the additions of fol. 2, 3, are contemporary. Other additions on fol. 23r, 36r, 29v, 33v, 53v.

Language(s): Latin

Physical Description

Form: codex
Support: parchment
Extent: iii + 55 + ii fol.
Dimensions (leaf): 220 × 165 mm.

Collation

Leaf missing after fol. 11; fol.1 should follow fol. 55; fol.23 is added, on the verso rhymed blessings for the Invention of the Cross, facing the ancient ones.

Layout

Text in 17 (fol. 50–3: 18) lines, written space 145 × 85 mm.

Decoration

Fine initials. Later additions, 12th century. (Pächt and Alexander i. 38, pl. IV)

Initials in silver and gold on vermilion (except for fols. 50–3).

History

Origin: 11th century, second half; additions, 12th century ; German, South

Provenance and Acquisition

Written for a church under the patronage of St Zeno.

‘Though the decoration is German in character and St. Zeno was much venerated in S. Germany and Tirol, the fact that there is no feast of St. Benedict makes it more than probable that this book was written for the cathedral of Verona and not, for example, for Isen, Geisenfeld, Radolfzell, etc.’ (van Dijk)

Record Sources

Description adapted (2018) from the following sources,
S. J. P. Van Dijk, Handlist of the Latin Liturgical Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford Vol. 1: Mass Books (typescript, 1957), p. 120 [textual content, physical description, provenance]
Otto Pächt and J. J. G. Alexander, Illuminated Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, I (1966), no. 546 [dating, localization, decoration, provenance]
Summary Catalogue IV (1897)

Last Substantive Revision

2018-10-03: Revised description to include all information from van Dijk, Pächt and Alexander, and Summary Catalogue.