Original leaf from a Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (803 x 582mm – 31 5/8 x 23’’)
The manuscript text and music (four lines of dark brown music on a red five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 400 years ago!!! Unusual massive size.
Spain, c. 1600.
One flamboyant illuminated initial (300 x 270mm - 12 x 10 5/8’’) in a floral design of red, blue and green surrounded by a frame of red and blue.
This leaf continues the Celebration of the Finding of the Holy Cross – May 3rd. The large illuminated initial “O” begins 6th century hymn O Crux Splendidior - written by Venantius Fortunatus (6th century poet, priest and Bishop of Poitiers). “O Crux…” (O Cross more radiant than the stars, celebrated throughout the earth…).
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
