Epistles of St. Paul

The scribes who created this manuscript arranged the Pauline Epistles (including Hebrews) in the standard order. The text appears in a central column with the gloss of Anselm of Laon (ca. 1050–1117) arranged on either side in neat columns, and further text between the lines. Additional comments in Latin and Italian appear throughout. The Simon Master created the large, intricate illuminated initials that begin each of the epistles. Nine of these remain intact, and the rest have been partially excised. The initials combine zoomorphic elements with swirling patterns, painted in vivid colors and highlighted with burnished gold.

Created ca. 1150–1175 by scribes in northern France or southern England and illuminated by the Simon Master.[1] Likely in Italy from the 14th to the 16th century.[2] Sold at auction in 1905.[3] Acquired by a private Swiss collection. Purchased in 2014 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma;[4] Donated in 2016 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry), under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.

Notes: [1] The Simon Master was a professional painter who was active on both sides of the English Channel in the 12th century and takes his name from the Abbott Simon who led St. Albans Abbey from 1167–1183. Some of his work for Abbott Simon is described by Walter Cahn, “St. Albans and the Channel Style in England,” Jeffrey Hoffeld ed., The Year 1200: A Symposium (Metropolitan Museum: New York, 1975), 187–230, accessed at https://books.google.com/books?id=1RIAeAMUJywC&pg=PA187&lpg=PA187&dq=St+Albans+and+the+Channel+Style+in+England&source=bl&ots=n9hXthZl1k&sig=ACfU3U1Hu-Bjyn45id37LO6bROJviEyJzw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi8s76H3ffzAhWkmHIEHZ_mABcQ6AF6BAgREAM#v=onepage&q=St%20Albans%20and%20the%20Channel%20Style%20in%20England&f=false. [2] Italian comments in the margins and a sixteenth-century Italian binding suggest this. [3] Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, London, June 29, 1905, Lot 643. [4] Purchased from Jörn Günther, Rare Books AG, who submitted it for an Art Loss Registry search (Reference S00095286, dated November 28, 2014). It is unclear whether it was on consignment or had been purchased by Jörn Günther.

Illuminated Manuscripts