The Helmingham Breviary

English

Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery

circa 1420

The breviary consists of 205 leaves and its Latin text contains the material necessary for reciting the eight services that make up the daily office arranged according to liturgical year. This is followed by a psalter and a sanctorale. The page illustrated heads the psalms and portrays the figure of King David, who is traditionally believed to have composed them, seated and playing the harp.

• Medium: leather bound manuscript (ink & gold leaf on vellum)
• Dimensions: 43.5 x 31 x 10cm
• Art Fund Grant: £25000 ( Total: £102,338)
• ArtFunded in: 1993
• Vendor: Sotheby's

Provenance

Priory of St Leonrad, Norwich until circa 1545; Tollemache family, Helmingham Hall, Suffolk; Sotheby's, 1955; Alan Thomas; Sotheby's, 1993.

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