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Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis



The Crowned Mary enthroned with the Child Christ, and Joseph kneeling in adoration
Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis ad usum Romanum (Book of Hours).
France, 1524.
Manuscript on vellum.
Lessing J. Rosenwald Collection, Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress


The manuscript is attributed to the Parisian workshop of Geoffrey Tory (1480–1533). In sixteenth century France, Geoffrey Tory and Claude Garamond designed graceful new types to accompany the books which they manufactured.

Tory`s printer mark was the broken urn and angel representing the death of his daughter

Books of Hours feature a cycle of prayers dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

A typical book of hours contained The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which included the fifteen Psalms of Degrees.

The above page illustrates Matins from The Hours of the Virgin:

Domine labia mea aperies.
Et os meum annunciabit laudem tuam.
Deus in adiutorium meum intende :
domine ad adiuvandum me festina :
Gloria patri et filio et spiritui sancto.
Sicut erat in principio et nunc et semper
et in secula seculorum. Amen. Alleluya.

(Rubrics):
Nota quod alleluya. dicitur a pascha usque ad septuagesimam.
Et a septuagesima usque ad pascha dicitur :

Laus tibi domine rex eterne glorie.
Invitatorium. Ave maria gratia plena dominus tecum.
Psalmus.
Venite exultemus domino

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