Title: Breviarium secundum ordinem beati Ruphi compilatum, Circa 1375-1400. Breviary for the Use of the Canons Regular of Saint Rufus, Spain (Catalonia). Latin Manuscript on Parchment
Condition: Very Good
A substantial 80 leaf fragment of a late 14th century manuscript Latin Breviary, produced in Spain, and following the very specific Use of the Canons Regular of Saint Rufus. The text is written in Latin and is a Gothic bookhand script written black ink, with headings in red ink, and capitals in red and blue. There are also Latin annotations from a former owner, contemporary or near contemporary to the 15th century. Likely a clergyman since many appear to be liturgical instructions.
As the main order of Saint Suf was centered in Avignon, this manuscript is a more likely copy within the orbit of Catalan influence, such as the monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses, or Cardona, Tortosa, or really any of the cathedral canons who adopted the rule and customs of Saint Rufus in Urgell and Tortosa.
This breviary opens with Vespers on the Saturday before the first Sunday of Advent from folio 1. From folio 47, the Office of the Virgin begins, ending abruptly at folio 80, and it is likely the Litany of Saints would have followed shortly after.
As per provenance, though there is no ownership inscriptions or bookplates of any kind, the manuscript was likely produced by a group of Augustinian canons who styled themselves as belonging to the Congregation of Saint Rufus—either because they were subject to the famous house of that name in Avignon or because they adopted its customs, as was the fashion for a time. Certainly, this would have been produced by monk scribes, owing to the professional, but not illuminated decorations, the usage of multiple inks and filigree initials, as well as an absence of miniatures and other more complex artistic elements.
While the script is somewhat indicative of the late 14th to even early 15th century, comparing to other manuscript breviaries of the same Usage reveal that the sibling manuscripts date no later than the 13th century, let alone the 14th or 15th. Portuguese manuscript specialist and codicologist Agostinho Frias argues that this manuscript example is datable to the second half of the 14th century.
The manuscript is written in a 29-line format.
One manuscript in 12mo (17.5 x 12.5 cm), 80 leaves on parchment
This manuscript is in very good shape, though lacking any sort of binding. There is a bit of restoration work to the upper right corner of the first leaf. There is an old threaded restoration to leaf 35. There is some light ink staining throughout, heavier to one leaf, with slight letter loss. There is some browning throughout.