Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (600 x 400mm – 23 ¾ x 15 ¾’’) The manuscript text and music (seven lines of music on a red five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand in black ink with rubrics in red over 400 years ago!!!
Seville, 1612 - Signed and dated by the scribe on the frontis “Simon Rodriguez Caravallo…en la ciudad de Sevilla, Anno domine 1612”.
The miniature painting (145 x 155mm – 5 ¾ x 6 1/8’’) within the initial “L” depicts the Martyrdom of St. Catherine of Alexandria. St. Catherine kneels on a broken spiked wheel (the original ordered form of torture which shattered upon her touch), hands clasped in prayer, head tilted to her left exposing bare neck. Her crown and scepter rest on the ground to her right. The executioner stands behind her with sword raised. On his left upper arm is the face of King Maxentius watching the execution he commanded. In the background are rolling hills and a town. Surrounding the painting is a floral border in violet and white on a deep blue ground. A floral bar extends along the top and left in white and pink on a liquid gold ground.
This leaf opens the Feast of St. Catherine. The historiated initial “L” begins Psalm 118 (King James 119) 46-47: “Loquebar de testimoniis…” (And I spoke of thy testimonies before king: and I was not ashamed. I meditated also on thy commandments, which I loved).
The knot-work “B” begins verse 1: “Beati…” (Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord).
The knot-work “G” begins the Glory Be: “Gloria…” (Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit…).
An attractive and unusual leaf with some obvious signs of devotional use, staining and rippling. There are several worm holes and two small slits in the outer blank margins, top margin cropped. Shipped unmatted
