About the Free Library Leaf from a Gradual

Historiated Initial M with Christ and the Apostles
Leaf from a Gradual by the Master of the Morgan Biblia Pauperum

Germany, Regensburg, c. 1435
The Free Library of Philadelphia, Rare Book Department, Lewis E M 64.13

This beautiful leaf is from a liturgical manuscript called a gradual. Liturgical manuscripts are Books of Common Prayer in the Christian Church and the gradual is the sung response to the readings during religious services. It is the principal music book used by the choir and contains singing responses, hymns, and chants. Often elaborately decorated and ornamented, these choir books were usually quite large so that a number of people could sing from them at the same time. To have all the music necessary for an entire liturgical year, many volumes of musical texts were needed.

This page of music is 20-1/2 inches high and 14-1/4 inches wide and is written in Latin. It is decorated with a historiated initial M containing a miniature of Christ standing among the apostles, including Peter on his right and John on his left. The orb in Christ's left hand refers to his role as Savior of the World. The border decoration of this page is lively and playful with curling vines of acanthus leaves supporting drolleries, or humorous figures, including a wild man playing the lute, two wild men hunting a monkey, and a griffin with very large claws.

Attending church services during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance was a regular event for most people. Priests led worshipers through all the celebrations of the church year and were among the first members of European medieval society to become literate because they used these books every day.

Vellum
Folio, 20-1/2 x 14-3/4 inches (520 x 365 mm)
Text: 15-1/4 x 9 inches (390 x 230 mm)
Latin, liturgical Gothic bookhand

Leaves of Gold catalog entry #51

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