Breviary- Med MS 17A

Breviary. Single folio on vellum. Northern Italy, ca. 1425: 131 x 100 mm (written area 96 x 71 mm). Double column, 31 lines. Text: both leaves preserve texts for unidentified ferial days, with various lessons, versicles, responds, antiphons, and collects. Decoration: Alternating two-line initials in red and blue with astonishingly busy, intricate and delicate trailing penwork in contrasting colors (red on blue, purple on red), often looping throughout the margins, else rubricated.

Breviary—a book of the prayers, hymns, psalms, and readings for the canonical hours. Ferial—of or relating to a feria. Feria--a weekday of a church calendar on which no feast falls. Versicle—a short verse or sentence (as from a psalm) said or sung by a leader in public worship and followed by a response from the people. Antiphon—A psalm, anthem, or verse sung responsively. [Mish, Frederick C., ed. Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Springfield, MA: Merriam-Webster, Inc., 1990.]