Frontispiece
from Iluminations from The Book of Collects

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales larger image

1854 Illuminated manuscript of the collects for the Sundays and Red-Letter Festivals of the church year according to the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Decorated in medieval manner, each collect is written in black ink decorated with red, with illustrated borders. Many of the borders contain biblical scenes and saints. medium: ink on paper technique: illuminated, calligraphy, painting St David's Cathedral Library, St Davids, Pembrokeshire Reproduced by kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of St David's Cathedral. The manuscript was given to the cathedral by Miss Dorothy Ellis. In a letter dated 20th December 1928, she noted that 'the book was made by my English Great Aunts who were Puseyites of the forties and fifties. I give it in memory of my late father'. Unfortunately Miss Ellis names neither the aunts nor her father. She left Pembrokeshire for Newmarket.  (ObjectID=775 ImageID=1381) Original File Name=_MG_3376.jpg

This artwork is indexed under the following main subject(s):
for other works containing these subjects please click on the links.

• Abraham kneels before the angels  [Genesis 18:1-5]
• adoration of the kings: the Wise Men present their gifts to the Christ-child (gold, frankincense and myrrh)  [Matthew 2:11]
• apostles must take up their cross ~ the ideal apostle  [Matthew 10:38; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Luke 14:27]
• baptism of Christ in the river Jordan: John the Baptist pouring out water on Christ's head: the Holy Ghost descends  [Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34]
• Christ ascends into heaven; apostles (and Mary) beneath  [Acts 1:9-11; Luke 24:50-51]
• Christ, usually holding a banner, arises from the grave; often combined with sleeping and/or frightened soldiers 
• crucified Christ with Mary, John, and Mary Magdalene  [Matthew 27:45-58; Mark 15:33-45; Luke 23:44-52; John 19:25-38]
• entry into Jerusalem: people spreading their clothes before Christ on the ass, and waving palm branches  [Matthew 21:1-11; Matthew 21:14-16; Mark 11:12-14; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19]
• flight into Egypt and miracles during the journey  [Matthew 2:14-15]
• flowers 
• John the Baptist 
• John the Baptist preaching (perhaps Christ among the bystanders)  [Matthew 3:1-5; Mark 1:6-7; Luke 3:2-3]
• lamb bearing cross or banner, 'Agnus Dei' - symbol of Christ 
• Luke the evangelist 
• Mark (Marcus) the evangelist, and bishop of Alexandria 
• Mary Magdalene meets the Risen Christ; 'Noli me tangere'  [John 20:14-17]
• Mary, Joseph and the new-born Christ (Nativity)  [Luke 2:1-7]
• on the way to Damascus Christ appears to Saul, who falls from his horse and is blinded by the light - the conversion of Paul  [Acts 9:3-7]
• Pentecost - the apostles, inspired by the Holy Ghost, address the representatives of the nations - Peter delivers a sermon  [Acts 2:5-40]
• Pentecost: the Holy Ghost descends upon (Mary and) the apostles, sometimes Paul and/or representatives of the nations present  [Acts 2:1-4]
• presentation of the Christ-child in the temple, usually Simeon and Anna present  [Luke 2:22-39]
• the Annunciation: Mary, usually reading, is visited by the angel  [Luke 1:26-38]
• the apostle and evangelist Matthew (Mattheus) 
• the apostle and martyr Barnabas of Cyprus, first bishop of Milan 
• the apostle and martyr Matthias; possible attributes: axe, book, cross, halberd, scroll, sword 
• the apostle Andrew 
• the apostle Bartholomew 
• the apostle James the Great 
• the apostle John the Evangelist 
• the apostle Jude Thaddaeus; possible attributes: book, club, halberd, scroll 
• the apostle Paul of Tarsus 
• the apostle Peter, first bishop of Rome 
• the apostle Philip; possible attributes: book, cross, dish with snake, lance, scroll, stone, sword 
• the apostle Simon Zelotes (or Simon the Canaanite); possible attributes: book, saw, scroll 
• the apostle Thomas 
• the deacon and (proto)martyr Stephen 
• the instruments of the Passion and the five wounded limbs 
• the marriage-feast at Cana  [John 2:1-11]
• the supper at Emmaus: Christ is recognized while blessing or breaking the bread  [Luke 24:30-31]
• the Tower of Babel  [Genesis 11:4-6]
• the Transfiguration: Moses and Elijah appear on either side of Christ on Mount Tabor  [Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36]

Martin Crampin, Stained Glass from Welsh Churches (Talybont: Y Lolfa, 2014), p. 98.

Photo © Martin Crampin, Imaging the Bible in Wales