Original leaf from a richly illuminated medieval manuscript Psalter. 20 lines of ruled Latin text, written with black ink on animal vellum. (177 x 132 mm - 7 x 5.2''). Two of the extremities of the penwork extenders are slightly cropped.
England, c. 1275.
Provenance: Collection of the late Astor Rosenbaum, Germany. Leaves have appeared over the years and sold at auction at Sothebys, London (1983, 1991, 1992, 2003). Another offered for sale at Maggs (cat. 1340 #4). Two sister leaves are in the Jeanne Blackburn collection (items 12 and 13) at the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The origin of this Psalter is convincingly ascribed to England, rather than to Flanders, due to the inclusion of a scene from the life of St. Thomas Becket on one of the leaves sold at auction in 1991, the greater similarity with line-fillers found in two Psalters from Worcester, the "Salvin Hours" and the Windmill Psalter (Morgan Library) further enhances an English origin.
The four-line historiated ''C'' contains a miniature painting of a scribe holding a scroll in blue, pink, & red on a burnished gold ground. Five wonderful line extenders in blue & red ink which become whimsical creatures. Fifteen illuminated one-line initials alternating in burnished gold with blue penwork & blue with red penwork.
The historiated ''C'' begins the Canticle of Moses - Exodus 15:1-6: ''Cantemus...'' (Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified...).
Recto: the illuminated ''R'' continues the Canticle of Anna - I Kings (I Samuel) 2:5-10: ''Repleti...'' (They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread...).
Presented in archival 14x11'' mat
