Location

115 Manuscripts & Textiles

Fun Fact

The ape and the wild boar symbolized vice in general and lust in particular during the Middle Ages.

Description

The litany of the saints is among the most ancient and emotional Christian liturgical texts, dating in the West to at least the AD 400s. In a book of hours, the litanies is a list of saints’ names expressed in hierarchical order and individual rank. These names were recited rhythmically as invocations, followed each time by Ora pro nobis (Pray for us). In this way, saints were called upon by sinners seeking forgiveness and salvation.

The bas-de-page (lower margin), features an ape hunting wild boars: both animals were symbolic of vice and lust. Perhaps deriving from a fable, the scene could be amusing or diversionary, but it was likely instructive for the medieval owner of the book.

Inscriptions

Inscription

Letania Kyrie eleyson. Christe eleison. Christe audi nos. Christe audi nos. Pater de caelis Deus, miserere nobis. Spiritus sancta Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Trinitas unus Deus, miserere nobis. Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. Sancta Dei genitrix, ON. Sancta virgo virginum. ON. Sancte Michael, ON. Sancte Gabriel ON. Sancte Raphael ON. Oes sancti angeli et archangeli…

Inscription Translation

: Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Christ hear us. Christ hear us. God the Father of heaven, have mercy upon us. God the Son redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us. God the holy Ghost, have mercy upon us. Holy Trinity one God, have mercy upon us Holy Mary, pray for us. Holy Mother of God, pray for us. Holy Virgin of Virgins, pray for us. St. Michael, pray for us (now it uses an abbreviation of ON), St. Gabriel, St. Raphael, All the Holy Angels, and Archangels …

Inscription Remark

Litany of Saints

Provenance

3 July 1984

[Sotheby's, London, 3 July 1984, lot 127]

1984-

[Bruce Ferrini, Akron, OH, sold to Jeanne Miles Blackburn]

[Graton and Graton, Evanston, Ill.]

-2006

Jeanne Miles Blackburn, Maitland, Fl, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art

2006-

The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, Ohio

Citations

Leroquais, V. Les livres d'heures manuscrits de la Bibliothèque nationale. Paris: [Maçon, Protat frères, impr.], 1927. pl. CII

Avril, François, and Nicole Reynaud. Les manuscrits à peintures en France: 1440-1520. Paris: Flammarion, 1993. p. 279-80, Cat. 153, fig. 153

Wieck, Roger S. Painted Prayers: The Book of Hours in Medieval and Renaissance Art. 1997. pp. 91-93

Fliegel, Stephen N. The Jeanne Miles Blackburn Collection of Manuscript Illuminations. Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Museum of Art, 1999. Mentioned and Reproduced: p. 63, cat. no. 61 archive.org

Exhibition history

The Medieval Top Seller: The Book of Hours (Gallery 115 rotation). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (August 26, 2022-July 30, 2023).

The Cleveland Museum of Art