An Early Witness of the Franciscan Liturgy: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, Ms M.933
Résumé
MS M.933 is an undated gradual with no pr
ovenance, but whose iconographical program,
according to the long description by John Plummer, deserves further study.
For the 34 historiated and 66 illuminated initials, there are numerous instructions for the
illuminator in the margins, not only for the historiated initials, but also for many of the
decorative initials. The indications for the painter enable a study of the provenance and
iconographic program, even if the realization was
less extensive than the original program.
This study will show that this manuscript is an outstanding early witness of the Franciscan
liturgy, one of its kind because of its rich decoration. Its style, under Tuscan influence, can be
linked to Umbria, which is also the core of the Franciscan order.