An Exhibition in Honor of "Le manuscrit franciscain retrouvé" at Les Enluminures, Paris
“Le manuscrit franciscain retrouvé,” Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, MS n.a.l. 3245 (formerly our manuscript TM 686) was without question the most important Franciscan manuscript ever offered for sale by Les Enluminures (indeed, it would not be an exaggeration to state simply that it was one of our most important manuscripts ever). The publication in 2015 by Jacques Dalarun of the new, very early life of St. Francis found uniquely in this manuscript caused a worldwide sensation. Its complete contents and historical context will be explored at a colloquium sponsored by Bibliothèque nationale de France and the Institut de recherche et d’histoire des textes (CNRS) on September 20-22, 2017.
In honor of this manuscript, we present a small group of manuscripts that illuminate the place of books in Franciscan life in the Middle Ages. Franciscans turned to books daily, to guide their public and private prayers, as sources of spiritual renewal, as aids to preaching and confession, and for study. The Franciscans were an international order, and these manuscripts were copied across Europe, with examples from Italy, France, England, the Low Countries, Germany, and Spain; they range in date from the thirteenth to the fteenth century. Some of the manuscripts were copied by Franciscans, others were used by them, still others include texts by Franciscan authors. Highlights include: a delightfully illustrated fourteenth-century Mammotrectus, a Franciscan educational text, signed by the scribe who was the leader of a Franciscan convent in Umbria; a tiny thirteenth-century portable Bible from Spain with evidence that it was used by Franciscans; and a collection of sermons by an important Franciscan preacher, copied in Paris during the author’s lifetime.
IRHT colloquium program here
ENLIGHTEN THE DARKNESS: An Exhibition in Honor of “Le manuscrit franciscain retrouvé”
Opening and Reception: Wednesday, September 20th 2017, 7 PM to 9 PM
Exhibition: September 21st through September 29th Monday through Friday, 11 AM to 7 PM
