Ci commencent les decretales en francois. Ci commence li prologues sur la novele compiloison
[Bulla "Rex pacificus".]
Incipit: ‘Gregorius. Gregoires evesques sers a tous ...’
[Historiated initial illustrating the papal bull: Pope Gregory IX is depicted seated at a lectern, writing his collection of laws with a pen and a knife. On top of the lectern is the dove of the Holy Ghost, who is inspiring his writing (thus suggesting the divine nature of the Liber Extra). Behind him are two tonsured clerics and in front of him is a Dominican friar, presumably to be identified with Raymond de Peñafort.]
Cist ty pt de sainte trinte et de la foi cretienne
Incipit: ‘Firmiter. Nos creons fermement ...’
[Historiated initial illustrating book I: Representation of the Trinity: God the Father and Christ are depicted seated. Their portrayal is identical and does not allow for them to be distinguished: they are both elevating their right hands in a blessing gesture (index and middle fingers raised) and holding a volume with their left hands. The volume should perhaps be seen as a visualisation of the Liber Extra, therefore the image may suggest the divine legitimisation of the law collection. Between the two flies the dove of the Holy Ghost, descending from above. All three entities composing the Trinity are haloed.]
67r
Ci commence li segons livres des decritales. Cist titres des iugemens
Incipit: ‘De quovuldeo. Ci cas est tiervus evesques ...’
[Historiated initial illustrating book II: A pope acting as a judge is depicted enthroned, his right index finger raised to address the people before him. In front of the pope is a group of tonsured clerics, one of whom raises a hand and points in accusation to a bishop on the right. The latter raises his right hand in objection. The scene depicts the episode of the bishop Quodvultdeus, who, having been accused by an opponent, refused to be judged by a group of his peers. ]
119r
Ci commence li tiers livres cist titres est de la vie et de loneste aus clers
Incipit: ‘Ut laici. Li lai nempignent pas a ester ...’
[Historiated initial illustrating book III: Inside a church, a priest is depicted in front of an altar with a chalice partially covered by a cloth on it. He raises the Host with both hands to perform the ritual of the Eucharist. Behind him, an acolyte expels two laymen from the sacred space: he puts his hand on one of the men’s arm and pushes him away from the altar, as they are not allowed to witness the ritual. The laymen proceed to walk away, the one being pushed turning his head to look at the acolyte and raising his hand in a sign of acquiescence.]
181v
Incipit: ‘De Francia. Sic hons de France ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book IV: A priest is standing between a man and a woman, officiating their marriage with the help of a tonsured cleric standing beside him. He holds their right hands, preparing to join them to make their union official (dextrarum iunctio). The groom raises his free hand to express his consent to the marriage; the bride, instead, raises her index and middle fingers (is she withholding her consent?). Both spouses are escorted by their respective parties, consisting of a man for the groom and a woman for the bride.]
201v
Ci commence li quins livres de decretales. Cist tytres est des accusations et desenquestes et desnontiacions
Incipit: ‘Si accusator. Si li acuserres nest leaus ...’
[Illuminated frontispiece illustrating book V: A secular judge is depicted seated with his legs crossed, his right index finger raised to address the people in front of him. Before him is a group of Benedictine friars, one of whom addresses the judge by raising his index finger. He is supported by another Benedictine standing behind him, who touches his hand. They are presumably making an accusation directed to the bishop on the right, who responds by raising a hand in objection.]
252v
Explicit: ‘... Explicit. Ci fenissent les decretales en francois’
Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale Ms. fr. 493, f. 3r
Open in Mirador
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS
Unitary manuscript
Binding: rebound
Layout: 2 columns
Illustrations: Historiated initials on ff. 3r (illustration of the papal bull: Pope Gregory IX writing the Decretales; book I: The Trinity), 67r (illustration of book II: Judgement scene with pope), 119r (illustration of book III: Celebration of the Eucharist), 181v (illustration of book IV: Marriage ceremony) and 201v (illustration of book V: Judgement scene with pope). Flourished and simple initials supplied in red and blue.
Iconclass: pope; insignia of the pope, e.g. tiara; sitting on an elevation; pen-knife; pen; handwriting, writing as activity; author, poet writing; lectern ~ reading; Holy Ghost represented as a dove (in flames); monastic orders, monastic life: Dominicans; monk(s), friar(s); tonsure; God the Father enthroned, usually with sceptre and/or globe; adult Christ together with others (non-narrative representations); God the Father and Christ as identical persons; blessing (either of things or persons), e.g. by anointing; codex; Holy Ghost represented as a dove (in flames); nimbus, halo ~ radiance emanating from persons or things; Trinity in which God the Father and Christ are represented as persons, the Holy Ghost as dove; 'Giudice' (Ripa); archbishop, bishop, etc. (Roman Catholic); insignia of bishop, e.g. mitre, crozier; accusation (in court); the accused; accusing; judicial duel; priest (Roman Catholic); 'elevatio', showing the Sacred Host and Chalice; the Eucharist ~ the fourth of the seven sacraments; bread, Host; chalice; altar; acolyte, chorister, lector, ostiarius, etc. ~ functionaries in Roman Catholic church; pushing something; gripping someone by the shoulder; strife of laity and clergy; head-gear: hood; marriage, married couple, 'matrimonium'; shaking hands, 'dextrarum junctio'; gripping someone by the hand or the wrist; clasped hands; couple before the priest ~ marriage; members of bridal party; witnesses; the consent (of marriage); palm of the hand turned up; index finger and middle finger raised, closed; standing, leaning, sitting or lying with legs crossed; head-gear: cap; beard; monastic orders, monastic life: Benedictines; gripping someone by the arm; laying the hand on another person's shoulder; 61B2(GREGORYIX); 11H(RAYMUND) the Dominican friar and founder of the Mercedarians, Raymund of Pennafort; possible attributes: crucifix, key, lily; 31A25561(+915) index finger and middle finger raised, closed (+ blessing); 31A25552(+932) index finger forwards, pointing, indicating (+ addressing); 31A25552(+9211) index finger forwards, pointing, indicating (+ accusing); 31A25521(+932) palm of the hand turned up (+ addressing); 11H(GREGORY)12 St. Gregory the Great as Doctor of the Latin Church, with book, pen, and dove (divine inspiration)
