Missal of the Holy Sepulchre

ca. 1135–40

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

With the fulfillment of their dream to possess Jerusalem, the Crusaders turned their attention to works of art like this manuscript, which contains all the texts they needed to celebrate Mass at the Holy Sepulchre. Certain pages are unusually numbered in both Latin and Armenian characters, indicating that both Europeans and Armenians took part in the creation of the book. A special prayer within its pages praises God as the builder of Jerusalem and the guardian of the city and, perhaps surprisingly, of all its people.

Artwork Details

Overview

Exhibition History

Title: Missal of the Holy Sepulchre
Date: ca. 1135–40
Geography: Made in Jerusalem
Medium: Tempera, gold, silver and ink on parchment
Dimensions: 11 13/16 × 7 7/8 × 2 15/16 in. (30 × 20 × 7.5 cm)
Classification: Manuscript Materials
Credit Line: Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris (Latin 12056)
Curatorial Department: Medieval Art and The Cloisters