Lancelot-Grail Intranet Site-Chronology and Geographical Distribution of Lancelot-Grail Manuscripts
© Alison Stones 2007
I use the symbol + to indicate manuscripts which I consider were made by the same craftspeople or are closely related to each other stylistically.  Justification of the stylistic groupings of thirteenth and early fourteenth-century manuscripts can be found in A. Stones, The Illustrations of the French prose Lancelot (Ph.D. University of London, 1970-71) and F. Avril in Les Fastes du gothique, le siècle de Charles V (Paris, 1981); for the late fourteenth-century copies see M. Meiss, French Painting in the Time of Jean de Berry, I, The Late Fourteenth Century and the Patronage of the Duke, 2 vols., London, 1967; for Jacques d'Armagnac's manuscripts, see S.A. Blackman, The Manuscripts and Patronage of Jacques d'Armagnac, Duke of Nemours (1433-1477), 2 vols. (Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1993, Ann Arbor, Mich. University Microfilms, 1994); and for other fifteenth-century copies, see F. Avril and N. Reynaud, Les manuscrits à peintures en France 1440-1520 (Paris, 1993).  I have published several partial lists (1977, 1988, 2000, 2003) which the present list supercedes.  For a list by library, see Lancelot-Grail Library List.  Not every manuscript on that list can be firmly attributed.  Here I include only those whose attribution is reasonably assured; the others can be consulted via the Library List.

Textual components are indicated as follows: E=Estoire, M=Merlin, SV=Suite Vulgate du Merlin, L=Lancelot (L1=En la marche de Gaulle; L2=Journey to Sorelois, L3=Conte de la Charette, L4 Suites de la Charette, L5=Agravain); Q =Queste, MA=Mort Artu.
Other Versions: J=Joseph in prose, based on Robert de Boron's verse version, often copied as selections interpolated into Estoire; for details, see O'Gorman's edition; SM=Suite du Merlin (Huth Version, not to be confused with Suite Vulgate du Merlin, see Text Editions Page), Didot-Perceval; Post-Vulgate Q ueste. For editions see Text Editions Page.  Square brackets [ ] enclose references to manuscripts containing non-Lancelot-Grail texts.

Links are to libraries' sites or to our descriptions; some sites include images. 

Date
Place
Library and Shelf Number
Text Branches
Number of Illustrations
[c. 1200 ?]
North France
Paris, BNF fr. 20047
[Robert de Boron, Estoire in verse]
unillustrated
[c. 1210-20 ?]
North France: Champagne ?
Modena, Bibl. Estense E 39
[J, M, Didot-Perceval, Lapidaire] 15
c. 1220
Paris ? Champagne ?
Rennes, BM 255
E, M, L1, L2 incomplete, L3 incomplete 64
c. 1220
Champagne ? attr. England
Paris, BNF fr. 752
L1
unillustrated
c. 1220
North France
Berkeley, UCB 73 (ed. Bogdanow)
QMA
1
c. 1220
Champagne ?
Paris, BNF fr. 768
L (MS de base of Kennedy's edition of the non-cyclic
Lancelot
1
before 1223 ?
or a later copy ?
says it was made
for Philippe Auguste
(f. 293)
Paris ?
Paris, BNF fr 2455 EM(incomplete) unillustrated
c. 1220-30
North France
Copenhagen, KB Thott
1087
MA
unillustrated
c. 1230-40 ? North France
Paris, BNF fr. 337 M[Livre d'Artus] unillustrated
c. 1230-50
Thérouanne or South France ?
Paris, BNF fr. 748 +
Paris, BNF fr. 754
JM
L1 incomplete
15
c. 1230-50
North France
Paris, BNF fr. 747+
Paris, BNF fr 751
EMSV, L1 announced but absent [MS de base of Micha's ed. of M]
L1L2L3L4L5 incomplete, QMA
3
1
c. 1225-50
North France
Paris, BNF n.a.fr. 4380 MA
unillustrated
c. 1240-50
North France
Paris, BNF fr. 771 L5Q
2
c. 1250
Soissons or Laon ?
Oxford, Bodl. Rawl. D. 899
L5QMA
2
mid-13th c. ?
North France
Paris, BNF fr. 423
[J]Mabridged
unillustrated
mid-13th c.
Cistercian ?
Paris, BNF fr. 1430 L1
unillustrated
penflourishing cf. Pontigny
c. 1250
Paris ?
Berkeley, UCB 107
(ex-Phillipps 1279)
L1L2L3L4 5
c. 1250
Paris ?
Paris, BNF fr. 339 L1L2L3L4L5QMA 120
c. 1250
Paris
Brussels, BR 9627-8 QMA
37
c. 1250
Paris
Chicago, Newberry f21Ry.34 12261+
Paris, Ars. 3347 
L1L2L3L4
L5QMA
3
3
c. 1250-75 ?
Jumièges ?
Berkeley, UCB 106 (ex-Phillipps 3643)  [Vies des pères] EM 21
13th c., second half England ?
Cambridge, Corpus Christi College 45 L1L2L3L4L5 (copied in BL Roy. 19.B. VII) unillustrated
1271 ns
IduM written by Jacquemin d'Acre
North France
Chantilly, Musée Condé 476(644) [Image du monde, Health Treatise] EQMA unillustrated
c. 1275 for Blanche d'Artois and Edmund Crouchback London
Paris, BNF fr. 123 L5QMA 90
1274 written by a female scribe
Douai ?
Paris, BNF fr. 342
L5QMA
92
c. 1280
Douai
Oxford, Bodl. Digby 223 L5QMA 12
c. 1280 written by Walterus de
Kayo
Douai
Le Mans, MM 354
E
17
c. 1285
Douai
Paris, BNF fr. 770
EMSM[Histoire d'Outremer et du roi Saladin, La fille du Comte de Ponthieu, L'Ordre de chevalerie] 140
late 13th c.
Douai ?
London, BL Add. 17443 QMA
2
c. 1285
Douai ?
Oxford, Bodl. Douce 303 E
2
1284 written by Michael nomine felix
Champagne ?
Paris, BNF fr. 12581 Q[literary miscellany]
1
c. 1275-85
Saint-Omer or Thérouanne
Paris, BNF fr. 19162 EMSV 83
c. 1275-85
Saint-Omer or
Thérouanne
Paris, BNF fr. 24394 EMSV 71
1286 written by Arnulphus de Kayo
Amiens and
Cambrai or Thérouanne
Bonn UB 526
EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA 346
c. 1270-1300
Bologna ?
Venice ?
Oxford, Bodl. Douce 178 EMSV 162
1288 written by Bonifacio de Gualandis for Brexianus de Salis, Podesta of Modena Genoa ? Modena ? Chantilly, Musée Condé 1111(649) MA 4
c. 1280-1300
Genoa
Berlin, DSB Ham. 49
L1 incomplete
24
c. 1280-1300
Genoa
London, BL Harley 4419 L
1
c. 1280-1300 Genoa
Paris, BNF fr. 354 L5 incomplete 22
c. 1280-1300
Genoa
Venice, BMarciana XI (254) L5 incomplete
c. 1280-1300
Genoa
Venice, BMarciana XII (255) L5 incomplete
c. 1290
Genoa
Udine,Bibl.Arcivescovile 64/177    
Facsimile
Q
34
c. 1290
Bologna
Paris, BNF fr. 16998
L5
1
c. 1290
Bologna
Paris, BNF fr. 773
L1L2L3 incomplete 1
c. 1300
Tuscany
Paris, BNF fr. 767
L1L2incomplete
unillustrated
c. 1300
Naples ?
Venice, BMarciana Fr.Z.15 (228) [Roman d'Artus]

c. 1300
Naples ?
Private Collection L fragment
1
c. 1280-1300
London
London, BL Roy. 20.C.VI L5QMA 3
c. 1290-1300
England
Paris, BNF fr. 25520 QMA
1
c. 1300
England
Cambridge, UL Add. 7071
ESM
unillustrated; distinctive penflourishing
c. 1290-1300
Metz or Verdun
Private Collection (Lebaudy, olim
Phillipps 1047)
EM
129
c. 1290-1300
Metz or Verdun
Paris, BNF fr. 344
(see Private Collection Lebaudy)
EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA 344 (sic)
c. 1290
Acre, Cyprus, or Italy ?  Tours, BM 951
EJMSVcatchword for L1 133 by the Hospitaller Master and a Mediterranean artist
c. 1290
Paris or Acre ?
Paris, BNF fr. 12580 L5QMA 3 by the Hospitaller Master
c. 1295
Thérouanne or Cambrai
Paris, BNF fr. 110
EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA 99
c. 1295
Thérouanne or Cambrai London, BL Add.5474 [Tristan]L1
23
c. 1290-1300
Thérouanne or
Cambrai
Paris, BNF n.a.fr. 5237 ML5MA fragments elegant penflourished initials
c. 1290
Thérouanne
Paris, BNF fr. 95 EMSV[Sept Sages, Pénitence Adam]
163
c. 1290
Thérouanne
New Haven, Yale Univ.
Beinecke 229

L5QMA 166
c. 1300
Thérouanne or Ghent
Oxford, Bodl. Ash. 828
(see Bologna AS b.1.bis and Turin BN L.III.12)
L1 incomplete
40
c. 1300
Thérouanne or Ghent Paris, BNF fr. 749
E[Jfragments]M
126
c. 1300 Thérouanne or Ghent Bologna, AS b.1.bis E, fragments

c. 1300 Thérouanne or Ghent Turin, BN L.III.12 M
20
c. 1300
Arras ?
East France ?
South France ?
Geneva-Cologny, Bodmer 147 (ex-Ph.1046) 
E[Gospel extracts, Genesis extracts and other interpolations]M[Histoire de Troie]SV[interpolations][Maurice de Sully, Sermons]QMA 167
c. 1300
Arras
Darmstadt, HLB 2534 EML
3
1301
Normandy ?
Paris, BNF n.a.fr. 4166 [J]M [Didot-Perceval, Prophécies de Merlin] unillustrated
c. 1300-10
Paris
St Petersburg, NLR Fr. F.v.XV.5 E[J]
43
c. 1300-10
Paris
written by Ernoul d'Amiens
Oxford, Bodl. Rawl.Q.b.6
L1L2L3L4L5QMA 212
c. 1310
Laon or Saint-Quentin ?
Paris, BNF fr. 12573 L5QMA 78
c. 1310
Laon or Saint-Quentin ?
London, BL Add. 38117 (Huth) JMSM  67
c. 1310-20
Amiens, Laon, Noyon or Saint-Quentin New York, Morgan Lib. M. 805-6 L1
175
c. 1315
Arras
London, BL Royal 20.D.IV
L3 incomplete, L4L5 incomplete
12 by the Maître aux Mentons fuyants
c. 1317 ns
Saint-Omer, Tournai or Ghent
London, BL Add. 10292-4
EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA
747
c. 1310-20
Saint-Omer, Tournai or Ghent Amsterdam, BPH 1 (ex-Phillipps 1045/7[numbering problematical],
and 3630)/Oxford, Bodl. Douce 215/Manchester, Ryl.fr.1
EML12345QMA 189
c. 1310-20
Saint-Omer, Tournai or Ghent London, BL Royal 14.E.III
EQMA
116
1319
Avignon
Florence, Laur. Ash. 121(48)
Q
62
c. 1320
Paris
Paris, BNF fr. 333
L5
36
c. 1320-30
Paris

Paris, BNF fr. 105+
Paris, Ars. 3481
EMSVL1 announced but absent
L
127
78
by the Sub-Fauvel Master
c. 1320-30
Paris

Paris, BNF fr. 9123
Rubric List, EMSV 167 by the Sub-Fauvel Master
c. 1320-30 Paris
Oxford, Bodl. Douce 199 L5Q 32
c. 1330-45
Tournai
Paris, BNF fr. 1422-4
L5incomplete,QMA 73
c. 1340 ?
Tournai and England ?
Paris, BNF fr. 769 E
5 and unfinished later drawings
1344
Tournai
Paris, BNF fr. 122
L3 incomplete, L5QMA 120
1351 written, illuminated and bound
by Pierart dou Thielt
Tournai
Paris, Ars. 5218
Q
1357 written by Jean de Loles
Tournai ?
New Haven, Yale Univ. Beinecke 227 JEMSM 164
mid-14th c.
North France
Paris, Ars. 2996 [J]M
unillustrated
c. 1340-50
Paris
Paris, BNF fr. 16999 L1L2L3L4 115
c. 1350
Paris
Paris, Ars. 3482 MSVL5incomplete,QMAc. 1350
136
14th c.
North France or England ?
Paris, BNF fr. 341
Paris, BNF fr. 24367
L1
MA
unillustrated; elegant penflourishing
14th c.

Aberystwyth, NLW 5018 L
unillustrated
14th c.
Spain
Escorial, BR P.II.23
L
unillustrated
c. 1380
Milan
Paris, BNF fr. 343
Post-Vulgate Q[Tristan]MA 119
c. 1400-1410
Paris ?
Private Collection Switzerland (olim Bodmer unnumbered, Gunther Cat. 3 no, 11, Tenschert Cat. 16 no. 6-7, Kraus Cat. 165 no. 9, olim Clumber, Newcastle 937) EMSV[Vie de du Guesclin]
1402

Turin, BN *1688 (L.V.30) L

c. 1406 sold by Jacques Raponde to Jean Duc de Berry

Paris
Paris, BNF fr. 117-120 EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA 131 by the Master of Berry's Cleres Femmes
c. 1470 repainted by Jacques d'Armagnac
1405 sold by Jacques Raponde to Jean Duc de Bourgogne ?
Paris
Paris, Ars. 3479-80
EMSVL1L2L3L4L5QMA 130 various artists
c. 1440-55
Angers or Poitiers Paris, BNF fr. 96 EMSVL1L2L3 36 + spaces
by the Maître d'Adelaïde de
Savoie
c. 1450
Paris
olim London, Alpine Club
now dispersed
L1L2L3L4L5QMA for Prigent de Coëtivy, Admiral of France (d. 1450) 34 by the Dunois Master, Jean Haincelin
c. 1450-60
Tours-Angers
Dijon, BM 527
Facsimile
Q[Tristan]
45 by the Master of Charles du Maine (younger brother of René d'Anjou)
c. 1450
Central France ?
New York, Morgan Lib. M. 207-8
EMSV
32
c. 1470
Central France ?
New York, Morgan Lib. M. 807
QMA
2
c. 1470
Central France

Paris, BNF fr. 112
Special Version for Jacques d'Armagnac (ed. Pickford) 258 by Evrard d'Espingues
c. 1475
Central France
Paris, BNF fr. 113-116
EML1L2L3L4L5QMA 209 by Evrard d'Espingues
1479
Bruges
New York, Morgan Lib. M. 38
Graal abrégé written by Lois Daymereyes for Ysembert des Rolin (d. 1528), seigneur de Rymeries, bailly Dayweryres, chancellor of the Duc de Bourgogne unillustrated
c. 1480 paper
Champagne ?
Geneva-Cologny 105
L1L2L3L4L5QMA
owned by Guyot le Peley de Troyes (d. 1485)
45 miniatures on parchment added
1480-82
Bourges  ?
Brussels, BR 9246
Paris, BNF fr. 91
E
M
Guillaume de la Pierre's adaptation for Jean-Louis de Savoie, Bishop of Geneva
52
16
part by Jean Colombe
c. 1480-85 for Yvon le Fou, sénéchal de Poitiers, grant veneur de France (d. 1488) Poitiers
Paris, BNF fr. 111
L1L2L3L4L5QMA over 50 by the artist of BNF fr. 22500
15th c.
West France
Paris, BNF fr. 121
L1L2L3incomplete
1
15th c.

Aberystwyth, NLW 445 L
unillustrated
15th c.

Chantilly, Musée Condé 307(643) EM
unillustrated
15th c. paper

Paris, Ars. 3350
[J]
unillustrated
15th c. paper

Paris, BNF 1469
[J]M
unillustrated
15th c.  paper

Paris, BNF fr. 753
L1 incomplete unillustrated
15th c. paper

Paris, BNF fr. 1426
Paris, BNF fr. 332
E
MSV
unillustrated; note for a miniature on BNF fr. 1426, f. 158v
15th c.

Giessen, UB 93-94
LQMA
unillustrated
15th c.

London, BL Harley 6340 M
unillustrated
15th or 16th c. paper

London, BL Harley 6341-2 L1L2L3L4L5, Q announced but absent unillustrated
1504, written by F[r]. J. de Rochemeure
on paper

Paris, BNF fr. 1427
E
unillustrated

return to LG Project main page