Corsiniana Mirror of Human Salvation

Corsiniana Mirror of Human Salvation

The Speculum humanae salvationis (Mirror of Human Salvation) was one of the most widespread salvation books of the late Middle Ages. It was used especially by laypeople to comprehend the Christian salvation story and to understand the connections between the Old and New Testaments. As a typological work, the Mirror of Salvation pointed out so-called prefigurations: each New Testament story ('antitype') was juxtaposed with three 'types' of the Old Testament, whose analogies were intended to testify that the arrival of the Messiah Jesus Christ was predestined and was already foreshadowed in the actually Jewish writings of the Bible. From this, the all-encompassing salvation plan of God was assumed.

The Salvation Story for the Laity

The Latin Mirror of Salvation from the Biblioteca Corsiniana in Rome contains the common version of the text, which was probably originally written in Italy at the beginning of the 14th century. It begins with an introductory chapter on the creation of the world, summarizing the Book of Genesis, followed by the main chronological section on the Lives of Jesus and Mary. The last three chapters include devotions on the Seven Stations of the Cross, the Seven Sorrows and the Seven Joys of Mary.

Typological Layout

This content is spread over four columns of text on each double page, so that each antitype (left) can be shown in the main section with its corresponding Old Testament types. Each text column begins with a column-wide miniature depicting the respective biblical event in bold colors and wide frames, with red and blue shades dominating the color palette. At the beginning and end of the manuscript there are also several Genesis miniatures and further images of the life of Christ and from the life of Mary, corresponding to the texts.

A Franciscan Mirror of Salvation

The unique special feature of this high-quality manuscript are the 49 framed bas-de-page miniatures, which can be found at the foot of each of the text columns for the antitypes. They show scenes from the life of St. Francis of Assisi, which are directly associated with Jesus through this remarkable positioning. In the spirit of the Imitatio Christi, Francis is presented here as a follower of Christ who committed his life to the ideal of Jesus. Each picture emphasizes a parallel between the life of the saint and the events of the New Testament.

A Collective Work

This unique and precious decoration of the manuscript was probably the work of one scribe and three illuminators. While the major part of the illumination can be attributed to an artist named Guillaume, the miniatures of St. Francis were executed by an unknown master who was particularly generous in his use of gold leaf. The secondary illumination in the form of initials and borders was probably executed by an anonymous Italian illuminator. Although the manuscript has some flaws, its special composition makes it one of the most interesting and at the same time most artistic examples of the Speculum humanae salvationis.