Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (560 x 365mm – 22 x 14 3/8’’)
The manuscript text and music (six lines of music on a red five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand dark brown ink over 400 years ago!!!
Spain, c. 1525 –this leaf is from the Winter Volume (pars hiemalis) which comprised the Offices of Advent, Christmastide and Epiphany.
Two illuminated initials in red with violet interior and exterior penwork; one exceptional knot work (cadel) initial in dark brown ink heightened with yellow.
This leaf continues prayers for the Celebration of Christmas Day. The illuminated “I” begins: “Ipse invocavit…” (He will say to me, alleluia, alleluia).
The knot-work “P” begins: “Pater…” (You are my Father, alleluia).
The illuminated “T” begins Psalm 109 (King James 110) 3: “Tecum…” (With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee).
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
