Book of Hours of Mary Stuart - St. Petersburg Codex

Mary Stuart (1542–1587) was Queen of Scotland and for a short time of France as well as a claimant to the English throne
Accused of high treason, Mary spent the last 18 years of her life in captivity under Elizabeth I and was finally executed in 1587
In her personal book of hours, she immortalized herself over decades with signatures, notes and highly emotional poetry

Book of Hours of Mary Stuart - St. Petersburg Codex

Lat. Q.v.I.112 National Library of Russia (St. Petersburg, Russia)

Description

Book of Hours of Mary Stuart - St. Petersburg Codex

The Book of Hours of Mary Stuart kept in the Russian National Library is not only an extremely beautiful and ornate Gothic Book of Hours, but also a captivating testimony to the pious private life of the Queen of Scotland and temporarily also of France – Mary Stuart (1542–1587). She presumably received the manuscript, which was commissioned by an unknown, probably female person, as a gift in 1554 and immortalized herself in it with a note of ownership in that year, signatures, personal notes and elegiac poems. These reveal Mary's use of the manuscript over many years, but also her despairing emotional state during her political imprisonment under Queen Elizabeth I. The unsuccessful claimant to the English throne usually inscribed these glosses in the bas-de-page, directly beneath the wonderful, colorful vine borders of the pages, which are illuminated all over in the style of the Bedford Master. The prayer texts are accompanied by elaborate, arched miniatures, 22 of which have been preserved. A true late medieval gem!

Codicology

Alternative Titles: Stundenbuch der Maria Stuart - Russischer Codex
Type: Manuscript on parchment
Size / Format: 458 pages / 26.3 × 19.5 cm
Origin: France
Date: Middle of the 15th century
Epochs: Late Middle Ages Onwards
Style: Gothic
Genre: Private Devotion Books
Language: Latin
French
Script: Gothic Textura
Illustrations: 22 full-page miniatures, floral borders on every page
Content: Calendar, sequences from the Gospels, hours of the Virgin, hours of the Cross, hours of the Holy Spirit, penitential psalms, litany of saints, office of the dead, and a variation of French prayers to St. Margaret, St. Catherine, St. Peter of Luxembourg, a
Artist / School: Bedford style
Previous Owners: Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots (1542–1587)
James Stuart (1566–1625)
Charles I of England (1600–1649)

Available facsimile editions:

Facsimile Editions

#1 Das Stundenbuch der Königin Maria Stuart

Kindler Verlag / Coron Verlag – Gütersloh, 2015

Publisher: Kindler Verlag / Coron Verlag – Gütersloh, 2015

Limited Edition: 600 copies

Binding: Blue binding made of shimmering Asahi fabric with two golden clasps; both facsimile and commentary come in a matching, handmade decorative box (ca. 37.5 × 29.4 cm)

Commentary: 1 volume by Anton W. Lichomanov, Natalia Elagina, Olga Bleskina, François Avril, Arnold Hunt, Jane Stevenson, and Irène Faser
Language: German

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Book of Hours of Mary Stuart - St. Petersburg Codex