The Messale Rosselli: scientific investigation on an outstanding 14th century illuminated manuscript from Avignon

The manuscript D.I.21 kept at Biblioteca Nazionale Universitaria in Torino, better known as Messale Rosselli, is one of the richest fully illustrated missals surviving from the mid-14th century. It was produced in Avignon for the Aragonese Cardinal Nicolas Rossell (1314–1362) but after the patron's death, it passed from hand to hand until it reached its final destination in Torino. The Messale Rosselli has recently been the object of a thorough interdisciplinary study, involving full char- acterisation of the colourants with non-invasive techniques (FORS, fluorimetry, XRF spectrometry, optical mi- croscopy, IR photography). Information has also been obtained concerning the preparation of the parchment.