Vaux Passional Explained
| The Vaux Passional |
| Location: | National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth |
| Also Known As: | Peniarth Ms. 482D |
| Date: | c. 1503–04 |
The Vaux Passional (Peniarth 482D) is an illuminated manuscript from the late fifteenth to early sixteenth century. With thirty-four large miniatures in the style of the Flemish School, it is one of the most elaborately decorated manuscripts in the collection of the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. It retains an original binding of wooden boards covered in velvet from the early sixteenth century.[1] The volume contains the book plate of Watkin Williams of Penbedw.
Similarities to other manuscripts
The first section of the manuscript (ff. 1-185v), La Passion de Nostre Seigneur (The Passion of Our Lord), which was originally translated from Latin into French for Isabelle of Bavaria in 1398, is almost identical to several other Passion de Jésus-Christ manuscripts such as Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal MSS. 2038 and 2386, and Bibliothèque Mazarine MS. 949.[2]
Depiction of the death of Elizabeth of York
Thirty-three of the thirty-four miniatures accompany this text. The presentation page (f. 9) shows Henry VII and his children, Margaret, Mary and the future Henry VIII, mourning the death of Elizabeth of York, his wife and their mother. The king is wearing robes of mourning; in the background his daughters, wearing black hoods, kneel in front of a fire; and behind them their brother Henry, dressed in a green smock, clasps his arms around his head and weeps on his mother's deathbed.
The mirror of death
A poem Le miroir de la mort (The mirror of death) by Georges Chastellain is the second text in the manuscript (ff. 186-205v).
Donation to the National Library
Gwendoline and Margaret Davies of Gregynog purchased this manuscript and donated it to the National Library in 1921. It was one of the manuscripts that were not included in the sale of the Peniarth Manuscripts to Sir John Williams.
Binding
The Vaux Passional is a rare example in the National Library of Wales of a manuscript from the middle ages that retains its original late-medieval binding. The wooden boards, which are visible in places, are covered in crimson velvet. There are marks on the upper cover that were left by the brass bosses that adorned the volume, which was probably bound in a London workshop early in the 16th century.[1]
Peniarth 481 is also bound in its original crimson velvet and retains the five brass bosses.[3]
Full-page miniatures
File:Vaux_Passional._Henry_VIII_(f.9).jpg|f. 9 Presentation pageFile:Raising_of_Lazarus_(f._11r).jpg|f. 11r Raising of LazarusFile:Christ_and_disciples_at_table_in_the_house_of_Symeon_the_leper,_with_Mary_Magdalen_and_Martha_serving_(f._14).jpg|f. 14 House of SymeonFile:Mary_Magdalen_anointing_Christ%E2%80%99s_feet_(f._15v).jpg|f. 15v Christ and St Mary Magdalen File:Entry_into_Jerusalem_(f._17v).jpg|f. 17v Entry into JerusalemFile:Two_scenes_in_the_Temple_Christ,_the_woman_taken_in_adultery,_and_Pharisees,_Christ_drives_out_the_money-changers_(f._20v).jpg|f. 20v Two scenes in the TempleFile:Christ_disputing_in_the_Temple_(f._23v).jpg|f. 23v Finding in the TempleFile:Christ_tells_his_mother_of_what_is_to_come;_Judas_on_his_way_to_the_chief_priest;_Judas_bargaining_with_the_chief_priests_and_receiving_his_silver_(f._27v).jpg|f. 27v Three scenes with Christ and JudasFile:The_two_disciples,_Peter_and_John,_are_sent_to_prepare_the_Passover_(f._32).jpg|f. 32 St Peter and St John at PassoverFile:Christ_praying_in_the_garden_of_Gethsemane._Two_shields_of_unidentified_arms_in_borders,_with_motto_%E2%80%9CEntre_tenir_Dieu_le_viuelle%E2%80%9D_(f._40).jpg|f. 40 Christ at GethsemaneFile:The_Betrayal_Peter_raises_his_sword;_Judas_hangs_himself_(f._45v).jpg|f. 45v Two scenes with St Peter and JudasFile:The_Buffeting_before_the_high_priest_Mary_faints_in_John%E2%80%99s_arms_outside_the_gate._One_of_the_unidentified_shields_of_arms_repeated_in_border_(f._51).jpg|f. 51 St Mary and St John before the high priestFile:Christ_before_Pilate,_and_before_Herod;_angels_in_border_(f._54v).jpg|f. 54v Christ before Herod and PilateFile:The_Scourging_(f._63).jpg|f. 63 Scourging of ChristFile:Christ_before_Pilate,_with_Pilate_washing_his_hands_(f._70).jpg|f. 70 Christ before PilateFile:Christ_is_nailed_to_the_Cross;_Mary_and_another_pray_in_border_(f._76).jpg|f. 76 Crucifixion of ChristFile:The_Crucifixion_Christ_on_the_Cross_between_two_thieves_(f._80).jpg|f. 80 Crucifixion with thievesFile:The_Crucifixion_Christ_dead_on_the_Cross,_with_the_Virgin_Mary,_John_and_the_Three_Maries_mourning_(f._92v).jpg|f. 92v PietaFile:The_Crucifixion_Longinus_pierces_Christ%E2%80%99s_side_(f._98v).jpg|f. 98v Longinus pierces ChristFile:The_Deposition_Christ%E2%80%99s_body_is_removed_from_the_Cross_(f._103).jpg|f. 103 DepositionFile:Entombment_(f._108v).jpg|f. 108v EntombmentFile:The_Virgin,_John_and_the_other_mourners_leave_the_sealed_tomb_(f._117v).jpg|f. 117v Departure from sealed tombFile:Carimes_and_Lentius_writing_their_narrative_of_the_harrowing_of_hell;_Christ_harrowing_hell_(f._120).jpg|f. 120 Carimes and LentiusFile:Harrowing_of_hell_Christ_leads_Adam_by_the_hand._On_scroll_in_border,_the_motto_%27Entre_tenir_Dieu_le_viuelle%27_(f._125).jpg|f. 125 Harrowing of hellFile:The_Resurrection_Beaufort_arms_in_border_(f._131).jpg|f. 131 Resurrection with Beaufort armsFile:Christ_appears_to_Mary_Magdalen_as_a_gardener_(Noli_me_tangere)_(f._134v).jpg|f. 134v Noli me tangereFile:Christ_appears_to_two_disciples_on_the_road_to_Emmaus_(f._137).jpg|f. 137 Christ at EmmausFile:The_incredulity_of_Thomas,_who_places_his_finger_in_the_wound_(f._142v).jpg|f. 142v Doubts of St ThomasFile:The_Ascension_(f._148).jpg|f. 148 AscensionFile:Pentecost_descent_of_the_Holy_Ghost_as_a_dove_(f._151).jpg|f. 151 Holy Ghost at PentecostFile:Siege_and_destruction_of_Jerusalem_(f._155v).jpg|f. 155v Siege of JerusalemFile:Pilate_sends_Albanus_to_the_Emperor_Tiberius._Albanus_is_wrecked_on_the_coast_of_Spain_(f._172).jpg|f. 172 Pilate and AlbanusFile:The_Emperor_sends_Vespasian_with_an_army_to_destroy_the_Jews_(f._177v).jpg|f. 177v Caesar and VespasianFile:Young_woman%E2%80%99s_corpse_lying_on_the_ground,_youth_stands_holding_a_mirror_at_her_feet;_an_older_man_sits_gazing_at_the_scene_(f._186).jpg|f. 186 Le Miroir de la Mort, frontispieceFile:Peniarth 482D f. 196r.jpg|f. 196r Illuminated page
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: The Vaux Passional. National Library of Wales. 26 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151208023658/https://www.llgc.org.uk/discover/digital-gallery/digitalmirror-manuscripts/the-middle-ages/the-vaux-passional/. 8 December 2015. dead. dmy-all.
- Williams. Mary. French manuscripts in the National Library of Wales. National Library of Wales Journal. 1940. 1. 4. 211–216. 1 December 2015.
- Bookbindings in the National Library of Wales: 3. A late medieval velvet binding. Rees. Eiluned. 1985. National Library of Wales Journal. 4 February 2016. 1. 24. 147–148.
