Medieval Psalter Leaf - Delicate illumination

$0.00

Original leaf from a medieval manuscript Psalter.  15 lines of ruled text, written in Latin with dark brown ink on animal vellum. (100x73mm) 

Two two-line illuminated initials in burnished gold on a blue and red ground with delicate white tracery & extending into the margin with an ivy leaf design in burnished gold; nine one-line illuminated initials alternating in blue with red pen-work and burnished gold with violet  pen-work. 

France, c. 1425-50 (likely closer to 1425).

The two-line illuminated ''R'' begins Psalm 118 (King James 119) 17-24: ''Retribue...'' (Give bountifully to thy servant, enliven me: and I shall keep thy words.  Open thou my eyes: and I will consider the wondrous things of thy law...).

 The two-line illuminated ''A'' begins Psalm 118 (KJ 119) 25-27: ''Adhesit...'' (My soul hath cleaved to the pavement: quicken thou me according to thy word...).

The devout were expected to engage in a series of daily devotions, structured around the reading of the Psalms. In the Middle Ages all 150 psalms were to be recited each day, but as this proved impractical, the sequence was restructured to encompass a full week!

Shipped in archival 14x11'' mat.

  • Inventory# IM-10252
Sold Out