Jean Masson and his Medieval Manuscripts

Amienois collector Jean Masson (1865–1933) formed a rich collection of medieval manuscripts, over one hundred of which were donated to the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris as part of a larger bequest that comprised engravings, drawings and stamps, as well as miniatures and manuscript cuttings. He gave the remainder of his collection to the Bibliothèque municipale in his native Amiens, including a dozen medieval manuscripts linked to the region. Masson’s collecting was largely funded by his family textile factory, which specialized in producing religious costume and provided him with fortuitous access to manuscripts hidden in the holdings of religious houses. Masson was active on the European market, sourcing manuscripts from bookdealers and auctions in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and across the Channel in Britain. Despite his own attempts to ensure the legacy of his collection through exhibitions and donations, Masson and his manuscripts have been largely overlooked. In this paper, I will bring new attention to his contemporary influence on the manuscript trade, analysing the sources and nature of his acquisitions, and will explore some of the reasons behind the relative obscurity of his collection today.