Medieval Bible Leaf - Miniature of David Playing Bells

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A lovely original leaf from a medieval manuscript pocket Bible, written in Northern France (probably Paris), c. 1260. In Latin gothic micro-minuscule script, ruled in red & written in brown ink in two columns of 43 lines on animal vellum with rubricated chapter numbers.(156x103 mm). 

Five multi-lined illuminated Lombard style initials &elegant marginal penwork in red & blue – numerous one-line illuminated initials alternating in red and blue. The calligraphy is excellent, & the vellum is of the finest quality, extremely thin & smooth. Gothic text is written in remarkably tiny & very well formed letters, so small that there are ten lines of text to the inch. 

One eight-line historiated initial with a miniature painting of King David playing bells. The initial is in pink, blue, gray, red & gold

.The text is from Psalm 79 (King James 80) complete ''Qui…'' (Give ear, O thou that rulest Israel…).

THE MINIATURE BEGINS Psalm 80 (KJ 81) complete: ''Exultate…'' (Rejoice to God our helper: sing aloud to the God of Jacob…); Psalm 81 - 83 (KJ 82 - 84) complete: ''Deus…'' (God hath stood in the congregation of gods…O God, who shall be like to thee…How lovely are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts…); Psalm 84 (KJ 58) 1-13: ''Benedixisti…'' (Lord, thou hast blessed thy land…).

Provenance: parent book was a “portable” Bible of the Crusades era, used in theology study or preaching of the Gospel. In England by the 17th century; ex collection Lord Saltoun & later famous collection of Wm Foyle (1885-1963), Beeligh Abbey. 

The bible that contained this leaf was one of very high-quality, illuminated in Paris & similar to accomplished work associated by Branner with the Dominican Painter (see R Branner, Manuscript Painting in Paris during the Reign of Saint Louis).

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

 

  • Inventory# IM-7312
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