Missal

From the Getty Museum record

This missal (a type of medieval book containing the readings for the Christian Mass) was illuminated during the mid-13th century in Lyon, France. The artist of this work, probably a monk, remains unknown, although it is believed to have been illustrated within the confines of a Dominican monastery. It is likely that this manuscript was constructed in two parts, as the calendar and main text were created at different times. The calendar was written after 1248, likely after 1251, and possibly after 1254, as it includes entries corresponding to significant Dominican dates from these years. In contrast, the body of the manuscript dates from 1234 (the date of the feast of Saint Dominic is included) to 1244 (when changes were made to the reading for his feast). The manuscript’s illuminations complement the texts used during Mass and offer visual interpretations of their content. The manuscript contains nine historiated initials (initial letters containing identifiable figures or narrative scenes) that also functioned as markers signifying the start of individual sections. Additionally, the missal includes a two-page spread dedicated to the Eucharistic Prayer (Canon of the Mass), a central and profound element of the Roman Catholic Mass where bread and wine are consecrated to become the body and blood of Christ, reflecting on the sacrifice of Christ and recalling the Last Supper. The Canon also contains intercessory prayers for the living and deceased, those seeking the blessings of the Church, the Pope, the clergy, and the faithful.