Edited by Abbot Jean des Pruets
Luxury Copy of the Premonstratensian Missal
Charles Roger for Jacques Kerver, 1578
Illuminated luxury copy of the Missale Praemonstratense, text edited by Jean des Pruets, the Abbot of Prémontré, and consequently Abbot General of the Premonstratensian Order. It includes a manuscript table bound at front, music manuscript dated 1599 at end, Missa Divi Norbourti, manuscript Ordo missae and Canon missae with a full-page illustration of the Crucifixion.
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First two leaves of the Canon missae (fol. 143-144) printed on vellum. Printed in two columns, in red and black throughout, printed music, woodcut armorial on title-page and printer’s device at end
339 x 235 mm, c. 370 historiated woodcut initials and c. 236 woodcut illustrations, 2 full-page woodcuts, with elaborate contemporary illumination throughout, heightened with gold and silver, with the date 1599 appearing in the colouring of the woodcut on A1r. Among the manuscript leaves a full-page miniature of the Crucifixion
An exceptional Missal - in more ways than one
Overview
This work is now sold.
Though Pope Pius V declared the use of the Roman Missal of 1570 compulsory throughout the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church, certain religious orders were permitted as exceptions, such as the Premonstratensian Order. A new edition of the Missale Praemonstratense was published in 1578.
This edition is richly illustrated, including hundreds of small woodcuts and historiated initials showing Biblical scenes. They are then embellished with fine contemporary colouring and illuminated with gold and silver. The illustrations have borders of burnished gold leaf, and initial letters are also gilt in the same way. This is an incredibly luxurious copy of the Missal, and the printer, Jacques Kerver, was a member of a prolific Parisian printing family, with privileges of exclusive rights for 10 years to publish all works reflecting the reforms of the Council of Trent. This honour was granted by King Charles IX of France, and thus his commission for this grand copy of the Missale Praemonstratense is no surprise.