Western Medieval Manuscripts : Benedictional of Robert de Clercq

Western Medieval Manuscripts

<p style='text-align: justify;'> A Benedictional contains blessings, prayers, and rites intended for the personal use of a bishop. This one was commissioned by Robert de Clercq, abbot of the Cistercian monastery of Ter Duinen (‘Les Dunes’) at Kokside near Bruges from 1519 to 1557, sometime between when he took office and the death of Ludovicus Bloc in 1529. His arms, initials, and motto <i>Sperans gaudebo</i> (‘In hope I will rejoice’) are found throughout the volume. He is portrayed in the Crucifixion miniature (<a href='' onclick='store.loadPage(10);return false;'>4v</a>), wearing his white Cistercian habit, with his abbatial crosier and mitre. The manuscript was illuminated by Simon Bening (1483-1561), one of the foremost Flemish miniaturists of the sixteenth century. It preserves its original covers made by the well-known Bruges binder, Ludovicus Bloc (d. 1529)</p>