1.2 Brotherton Collection Manuscripts

Medieval illuminated manuscripts

Explore digitised images of medieval manuscript illumination. Find out more about the significant provenances of the manuscripts, and how they came to the University of Leeds Library.

1.1 Special Collections Manuscripts

Medieval manuscripts collected by the University Library in 1925, University of Leeds Special Collections

1.2 Brotherton Collection Manuscripts

Lord Brotherton's collecting of medieval manuscripts, held at the University fo Leeds Special Collections

1.3 Ripon Cathedral Manuscripts

Medieval illuminated manuscripts from the Ripon Cathedral collection, held at the University of Leeds Special Collections

2.1 French medieval illuminated manuscripts

French medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

2.2 French medieval illuminated manuscripts: part 2

French medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

2.3 Southern Netherlands medieval illuminated manuscripts

Southern Netherlands medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

2.4 Northern Netherlands medieval illuminated manuscripts

Northern Netherlands medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

2.5 Italian medieval illuminated manuscripts

Italian medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

Pan and other mythical creatures (fol. 97r)

2.6 German medieval illuminated manuscripts

German medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

2.7 English medieval illuminated manuscripts

English medieval illuminated manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

3 Manuscripts in detail

Illuminated medieval manuscripts at the University of Leeds, Special Collections

3.1 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 1]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 1: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.2 Breviarium ad Usum Parisiensem [BC MS 2]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 2: [Breviarium ad Usum Parisiensem], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.3 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 3]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 3: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.4 Hours of Antoine de Crèvecœur [BC MS 4]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 4: [Hours of Antoine de Crèvecœur], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.5 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 5]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 5: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.6 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 6]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 6: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.7 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 7]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 7: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.8 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 8]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 8: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.9 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 9]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 9: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.10 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 10]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 10: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.11 Preces [BC MS 11]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 11: [Preces], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.12 Preces [BC MS 12]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 12: [Preces], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.13 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 14]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 14: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.14 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 15]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 15: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.15 Beverley prayer book [BC MS 16]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 16: [Beverley prayer book], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.16 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [BC MS 18]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 18: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.17 In epistolas canonicas [BC MS 22]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 22: [In epistolas canonicas], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.18 Legenda aurea sanctorum [BC MS 23]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 23: Legenda aurea sanctorum, held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.19 Psalterium [BC MS 24]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 24: [Psalterium], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

BC MS 100: [Biblical and genealogical chronicle from Adam and Eve to Louis XI of France]

3.20 Biblical and genealogical chronicle from Adam and Eve to Louis XI of France [BC MS 100]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS 100: [Biblical and genealogical chronicle from Adam and Eve to Louis XI of France], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.21 Evangelistarium [MS 124]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript MS 124: [Evangelistarium], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.22 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [MS 498]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript MS 498: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.23 Biblia [Ripon Cathedral MS 1]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript Ripon Cathedral MS 1: [Biblia], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

Ripon Cathedral MS 3: [Apocalypsis et Epistolae catholicae, cum glossis]

3.24 Apocalypsis et Epistolae catholicae, cum glossis [Ripon Cathedral MS 3]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript Ripon Cathedral MS 3: [Apocalypsis et Epistolae catholicae, cum glossis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

Ripon Cathedral MS 4: [In Apocalypsim; Threni Ieremie cum glossis]

3.25 In Apocalypsim; Threni Ieremie cum glossis [Ripon Cathedral MS 4]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript Ripon Cathedral MS 4: [In Apocalypsim; Threni Ieremie cum glossis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

BC MS Frag. 1: Three single leaves from medieval liturgical manuscripts

3.26 Three single leaves from medieval liturgical manuscripts [BC MS Frag. 1]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript BC MS Frag. 1: Three single leaves from medieval liturgical manuscripts, held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

3.27 Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis [Ripon Cathedral MS 9]

View a high-resolution digitised version of the illuminated medieval manuscript Ripon Cathedral MS 9: [Horae Beatae Mariae Virginis], held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library.

Sir Edward Brotherton (1856 – 1930) became a collector of manuscripts and fine books toward the end of his life, in the 1920s.

His collection of medieval manuscripts was particularly rich in books of hours. This may not be surprising, as the period between 1875 and 1925 marked their greatest emergence and sale.

Lord Brotherton acquired a batch of twelve illuminated books of hours and prayer books from the London bookseller Charles James Sawyer. Among these were examples of the finest late medieval painting from France, the Low Countries, Italy and Germany.

By the time the collection was presented to the newly finished Brotherton Library in 1936, it contained 27 medieval manuscripts, many finely illuminated. Unfortunately no documentation survives to show whether Brotherton, or his librarian, J. A. Symington, had any rationale for the medieval collection. Symington destroyed all paperwork relating to the acquisitions following his disgrace and dismissal.

Dr Katja Monier