Medieval manuscripts

Listen to Georgia talk about one of the Library’s particularly beautiful medieval manuscripts, the Besancon missal, created in 1470.

From sourcing the best pigments, commissioning the best artists and apprentices, to making the vellum, discover how medieval manuscripts were created and why they have always been luxury items. 

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See the books

Besancon missal, volume one, 1470.

The two volumes of the Besancon missal are illuminated with burnished gold initials, patterned borders, and intricate miniatures (illustrations), all done by hand. 

Catholic Church. Besancon missal [volume 1], 1470. MedMS-G138. Click to see in detail on Kura Heritage Collections Online.

Besancon missal, volume two, 1470.

This image below, God in Majesty, features in both volumes of the missal. The symbols of the gospels; Luke, John, Matthew, and Mark, feature in the four corners. 

On the left-hand side, we can see where the coat of arms of the original owner, Charles de Neuchatel, has been scraped off the vellum.

Catholic Church. Besancon missal [volume 2], 1470. MedMS-G139. Click to see in detail on Kura Heritage Collections Online.

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