Sakramentar Heinrichs II.

The sacramentary – a sumptuous gem, resembling an imperial crown

It was intended to be a particularly lavish volume which impressively underlined the claim to power of the emperor to be. The skins of around 100 sheep and calves were necessary in order to produce the parchment for the 179 bifolios of the splendid manuscript – accounting for 718 pages in the finished book. How much gold and silver was used for the execution of its painted and decorated miniature pages, the calendar pages, the pages containing the High Offices written in gold script, and the gold and silver initials is hard to tell – not to mention the splendid goldsmith’s binding which was added to underline the material value of this missal that was expressly made for the ruler himself.

This luxury binding made of gilded silver sheet metal and a precious ivory plate protects a work of art whose text was embellished by the Regensburg scribes with 343 initials up to 15cm high, 21 luminously imaginative marginal frames, and 14 illustrated pages that even today constitute a true highlight of German art.

As all manuscripts of this kind the Sacramentary of Henry II contains all prayers, which are recited during the Holy Mass from the celebrating priest or bishop. These text parts, which contain richly with gold- and silver decorated initials in Ottonian style, follow an extensive sequence of images, full-page ornamental texts and a calendar written in golden letters.

The illuminated manuscript starts like a firework at the beginning of a great festival: Plates depicting the months of the year are followed by a coronation and throne picture of Henry II, expressing the very essence of how the last Saxon emperor saw an ideal ruler. Beside other noble pages Saint Gregory the Great is also honored with an imposing author’s picture. After a final page with the Lamb of God the actual Sacramentary commences, which hasn’t been written and illuminated on vellum any longer but on finest sheep parchment.

The fine parchment leaves, lavishly painted with miniatures and initials alike, and the binding were intended to form a cohesive artwork. Although the volume was probably rebound a number of times, we may still assume that the individual elements of its cover were associated with the Sacramentary right from its original production – a Sacramentary, which is stylistic and functionally inseparably associated with the Codex Aureus of  St Emmeram from the court school of emperor Charles the Bald.

The front cover of the volume shows a magnificent ivory plate framed with golden sheet metal, illustrating the same biblical events that are also pictured in the manuscript: the Crucifixion and below it the events of the Easter morning with the Three Marys at the empty Tomb.

No less impressive is the back cover of the book, which on a silver plate shows Pope Gregory the Great writing his text. He is inspired by the Holy Spirit who in the form of a dove seems to whisper in his right ear. Much like the author’s picture inside the painted book, this partly gilded silverwork expresses great harmony.

The unique and complete facsimile edition of the Sacramentary of Henry II is published in only 333 hand-numbered copies. The facsimile volume comprises a total of 718 pages in the original format of 29.5 x 24.2 cm. The leaves have been trimmed in accordance with the original book and sewn by hand. We owe the museum restorer André Glauser and the specialized company commissioned by him the replica of the original binding.

In a number of inspiring and easily understandable essays, reputed experts provide a wealth of information on the provenance, the function, and the artistic contents of the Sacramentary of Henry II. The commentary volume includes articles by Brigitte Gullath, Munich, Martina Pippal, Vienna, Stefan Weinfurter, Mainz, and Erich Renhart, Graz.

Another very important book of the Middle Ages, originating from the palace school of Charlemagne, is the Coronation Gospel..