The Borgia Missal

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he Borgia Missal, also called the Missal " de' Medici", is one of the most significant liturgical manuscripts of the 15th century. For the first time ever the missal has been taken out of the archives of the Curia Archivescovile di Chieti, where it has been kept for centuries, to produce this valuable, limited edition facsimile. An authentic work of art enriched by splendid miniatures which, in addition to the artistic and religious aspects, reveal a rare iconographic testimony of historical and cultural events of particular interest for the period represented. The original text, written in gothic script, is accompanied by a commentary by top researchers of the manuscript, that explains the meaning, illuminates the miniatures and helps to put into prospective the context in which the work was written. A fascinating voyage through time for those who relish reliving the emotions of a world that no longer exists, this unique edition is destined to become a rare volume sought after by collectors and enthusiasts alike.

A work of art worthy of the Pope

The Borgia Missal was commissioned at the end of the 15th century by Giovanni Borgia, cousin of Pope Alexander VI, to celebrate his nomination of cardinal, and it represents one of the first Sunday missals written according to the standards of the ceremonial procedures of 1488. For the importance of its function, the missal had to be written by expert calligraphers and richly decorated : an authentic masterpiece of illuminated miniatures. It is said that the missal was once part of the codices in the Sistine Chapel, exclusively reserved for the Pope, cardinals and high prelates of the Church for solemn mass sung in the papal chapel.

A jewel of the Medici family

The manuscript was so beautiful and particular that, once the two Borgias past away, Cardinal Guido de' Medici, cousin of Pope Clement VII, chose it as his own missal and wanted the prestigious symbol of his family to be inserted on the cover of the volume over the place of the Borgia symbol. When he became the Archbishop of Chieti. Guido de' Medici brought the codex in this city of the abruzzi where it was preserved for centuries.

From the Pinturicchio craftman's studio

The worth of an antique manuscript owes much to the beauty and the value of the miniatures, small jewels of art often produced by the same artists who are now famous throughout history. The Borgia Missal was decorated by four different maestri helped by various collaborators who seem to have belonged to the Umbrian school represented in Rome at the last decade of the 1400's by the Pinturicchio studio.

The techniques of reproduction of the antique codices

The reproduction of the antique, illuminated codices is a true art that requires great experience, skilled techniques and modern technology. The worth of this kind of work lies in the care that is taken, page after page, to reproduce the smallest details of the original volume and to repropose the most fascinating aspects: the especially-made paper, the reconstruction of the cover with special knobs, the quality workmanship that offers the same visual and tactile sensation as the original. Thanks to the most sophisticated techniques of reproduction it was even possible to recreate the parchment effect of the pages of the authentic manuscript.

The reproduction of the original Borgia Missal is particularly destined for those who love prestigious editions and want to enrich their family libraries with an exclusive exemplary.

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