Sherborne Missal

The Sherborne Missal is a 15th-century English illuminated manuscript missal in the British Library (Additional manuscript 74236) that has survived in excellent condition. It weighs 20 kg and has 347 leaves. It was commissioned by Abbott Robert Bruyning of Sherborne, and was made for use at Sherborne Abbey. It is one of the finest English examples of International Gothic painting.

The missal is notable for a number of reasons. The miniatures include the name of the patron (Bruyning), as well his superior as the Bishop of Salisbury Richard Mitford, the main scribe, John Whas, and the main artist John Siferwas.

The marginal decorations also contain numerous high quality drawings of British birds, including cormorants, gannets, moorhens, storks, robins, chaffinches and mallards.

Janet Backhouse has published a short volume analysing the Sherborne Missal, containing selected illustrations from the manuscript, as well as a more focused volume on the birds depicted in the Missal.

The manuscript is usually on display at the Ritblat Gallery in the library.

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