Curio

State Library of New South Wales
Choir book (Gradual) from the Abbey of San Stefano al Corno

Choir book (Gradual) from the Abbey of San Stefano al Corno

c1334-1425
Manuscript
Bequest of sir William Dixson, 1952
SAFE/Q3/1

This Gradual was made for use in the Cistercian Abbey of San Stefano al Corno, in Lombardy, Italy. Founded in France in 1098, the Cistercian Order emphasised simplicity and manual labour, with many abbeys supported themselves through activities such as agriculture.

Manuscript means written by hand. Manuscripts can include letters, contracts, diaries and wills. In medieval time all documents were handwritten.


The Cistercian Order was founded on 21 March 1098, when Robert, the abbot of the Benedictine abbey of Molesme, in western France, set out with 21 of his monks to the wilderness of Citeaux to create a reformed order.