Original leaf from a Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. The manuscript text and music (seven lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 500 years ago!!! Original hole at the end of the first line which occurred when the parchment was stretched in preparation. (480 x 350mm – 19 x 13 3/4'’)
Spain, c. 1500.
Two illuminated initials alternating in blue with delicate red penwork, and red with delicate violet penwork; one exceptional knot-work (cadel) initial in black ink heightened with yellow.
The illuminated ''C'' begins: ''Christus deus...''(Christ our Lord...).
The illuminated ''E'' begins the introit for the feast of Epiphany – the historical Mass of the Three Wise Men: ''Ecce advenit...'' (Behold the Lord the Ruler is come: and the Kingdom is in [His Hand]).
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
