Acquisitions and fundraising for the Bibliothèque nationale de France

12/7/23 - Acquisitions and fundraising - Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France - The Notre-Dame missal, sold by Christie’s on 5 July (see news item of 3/7/23), has finally been preempted by the Bibliothèque nationale de France for 56,700 euros (including costs) (ill. 1). We can only be delighted to see this manuscript, part of the history of Paris cathedral, enter French public collections. Perhaps one day it will be long-term loaned to the future Musée de l’Œuvre de Notre-Dame; this project is still only a draft, but it will probably come to fruition sooner than we thought: a prefiguration mission has just been entrusted to Charles Personnaz, who is due to submit a final report in April 2024 (see article).

1. Missal produced for Notre-Dame de Paris,
Paris, late 14th or early 15th century
Illuminated manuscript on vellum, in Latin - 34 x 23.5 cm
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France
Photo: Christie’s

See the image in its page

In the meantime, this late 14th or early 15th century missal joins another manuscript produced for Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris in the BNF’s collections, which was preempted for 65,000 euros hammer price at the Phidias sale on 19 May 2022 (ill. 2 and 3). Illuminated by an anonymous Parisian artist, it dates from the 16th century. It is a repertory of rituals, Rituale ad usum Ecclesiae Parisiensis, notably for the blessing and exorcism of water, the office of catechumens and the burial of the dead.

2 Rituale ad usum Ecclesiae Parisiensis
Paris, second quarter of the 16th century
illuminated manuscript - 34 x 21.5 x 3.5 cm
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France
Photo: Phidias

See the image in its page

3 Rituale ad usum Ecclesiae Parisiensis
Paris, second quarter of the 16th century
illuminated manuscript - 34 x 21.5 x 3.5 cm
Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France
Photo: Phidias

See the image in its page

Finally, it should be noted that the BNF has launched an appeal…