Getty Museum

Inhabited Initial C

Date

probably 1170s

Medium

Tempera colors, gold leaf, silver leaf, and ink

Culture

German

Department

Manuscripts

Institution

Getty Museum

Saint Bernward founded the monastery of Saint Michael in Hildesheim where this missal was made, and his body was buried in the monastery church. His feast day, therefore, received special treatment in the missal, with a large inhabited initial *C* introducing the prayers said at Mass. The violence occurring among the vine tendrils may refer to the act of sacrifice in general, therefore relating to the sacrifice of Christ commemorated in the celebration of Mass.

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