Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (555 x 385mm – 21 7/8 x 15 1/8'')
The manuscript text and music (six lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 450 years ago!!!
Spain, c. 1550. This Choirbook once belonged to the Convent of San Pedro Regalado de la Aguilera, and was likely scribed there.
One illuminated initial in blue with red and blue penwork; one illuminated initial in red with blue and red penwork; elaborate floral design (verso) in red extending across the lower margin.
This leaf continues the Common of Apostles and Evangelists. The illuminated ''V'' begins ''Vidi conjunctos...'' (I saw men standing together, in shining garments, and the angel of the Lord spoke to me saying ''These are the holy men; they have become the friends of God. I saw an angel of God flying in the mid-heaven, and crying out with a loud voice...).
The illuminated ''B'' begins: ''Beati...'' (You are blessed when men hate you, and persecute you, and speak all the evil they can against you, belying you for my sake...).
As is usual with Medieval and Renaissance parchment, the hair side of the leaf is darker than the flesh side, but may take ink somewhat better. The differences in tone caused scribes to arrange their quires so that the hair side of one sheet faced the hair side of the next, and the flesh side faced the flesh side.
Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and compline.
Shipped unmatted
