Leuven, KU Leuven Bibliotheken Bijzondere Collecties, Ms. 1183
Die eerste bliscap van Maria (fragment)
“In seventh heaven” is one of numerous biblical references to the number seven. Another example is Mary’s seven joys and seven sorrows, which inspired numerous paintings (by Hans Memling, among others) and works of literature. For example, in 1448, the city of Brussels decided to adapt one of the seven bliscappen (joys) of Mary every year as a mystery play to be performed on the Grote Markt. Mystery plays dramatised stories from the Bible for the faithful. Unfortunately, only the first and seventh of the Brussels “joys” have survived: the angel’s message and Mary’s ascension into heaven. These are leftover fragments of the first bliscap. Because only two sources of the text are known, they are very important for the history of Dutch literature. [Flandrica]
Manuscript description
Manuscript ID
mmfc-14899
Title
Die eerste bliscap van Maria (fragment)
Shelfmark
Leuven, KU Leuven Bibliotheken Bijzondere Collecties,
Ms. 1183
Former shelfmark
Ms. Fragm. 117 (a+b)
Manuscript Category
Topic
Provenance
Owner
Date
1922
Evidence type
Secondary source
(Kienhorst 2005, p. 192)
Description
Host volume was acquired by Professor Henri De Vocht around 1922 according to Kienhorst.
Acquisition
De Vocht's collection was acquired by Leuven University Library after his death in 1962.
References
Online catalogue record
Digital reproduction
IIIF Manifest
https://lib.is/IE2236299/manifestOther online data sources
Main - fol. [1]v-[2]r - PDM 1.0
Extra - fol. [2]v-[1]r - PDM 1.0
Extra - fol. [4]v-[3]r - PDM 1.0
Extra - fol. [3]v-[4]r - PDM 1.0