Extraordinary Christian theological manuscripts on display as part of Sacred: An Exhibition
On Tuesday 19th November, over 250 visitors entered New College Chapel to view the beautiful and extraordinary manuscripts displayed as part of the exhibition, Sacred: Christian Theology in New College Library. Arranged across five themes, the exhibition navigated biblical texts donated by William of Wykeham, remarkable codices dating from the 12th century onwards associated with key clergy, important texts relating to the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation, medieval manuscripts of exquisite illumination and decoration, books of Marian devotion, and others that bear witness as objects to assist personal worship—and yet more manuscripts from our Library’s special collections.
Discover the unparalleled variety of manuscripts on display in some exhibition highlights:
Greek Book of Prophets (c. 1200)
One of the oldest now held in New College library, this manuscript was given to the college by Cardinal Reginald Pole (1500–1558), an important figure of the Counter-Reformation, or Catholic Reformation. This collection of the biblical books of the Minor Prophets is one of four volumes forming the complete Old Testament. Its three companions are now held in the Bodleian Library, the National Library in Athens, and the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul. The beautifully detailed portrait miniatures are illuminated with gold in a style typical of late-Byzantine Christian iconography. This image shows a portrait of the prophet Obadiah.
New College Library, Oxford, MS 44
Psalter: A Variety of Pigments (c. 1240–1250)
This Psalter is pictured open at its celebrated full-page historiated initial ‘B’, which is the first letter of the first word of the Psalms in Latin. This book was decorated by the famed illuminator, William de Brailes, who was recorded as living in Catte Street, Oxford, between 1238 and 1252. At first glance, therefore, it appears that this book has not travelled far to New College! However, further analysis of the pigments, obtained through spectroscopy, reveals a wide variety of minerals. Just this one pictured page includes the pigments vermilion, verdigris, lapis lazuli, azurite, and white lead. In this period, the only known source of lapis lazuli was Afghanistan, meaning it was by far the most expensive mineral. In its pigments, this beautiful manuscript reveals a wide-reaching trade network, across Europe and beyond.
New College Library, Oxford, MS 322
Wykeham’s Legacy: ‘The Chaundler Manuscript’
Authored by Thomas Chaundler (c. 1417–1490), Warden of New College, this is one of the most renowned manuscripts in our collections. Essentially a biography of William of Wykeham, it was written to praise and commemorate the founder of New College and Winchester College. The manuscript is celebrated for containing the first representation, topographically precise, of both New College and Winchester College. The image of New College is instantly recognisable, even 500 years later.
New College Library, Oxford, MS 288
Find out more about New College Library’s rich special collections here.