Original leaf from a Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (600 x 410mm – 23 ½ x 16 ¼’’).The illumination, manuscript text and music (five lines of dark brown music on a red five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 400 years ago!!!
Dated 1599 and inscribed from the Cistercian Monastery of the Incarnation, Cordoba, Spain on another leaf from a companion volume.
This leaf begins Candlemas. The large miniature painting inhabiting the initial “L”measures 7 x 7 inches (170x170 mm) and depicts the Presentation in the Temple. This story is described in the Gospel of Luke 2:22-40: Forty days after the birth of Jesus, Mary & Joseph took the child to the Temple in Jerusalem (as tradition dictated). Once there, they encountered Simeon the Righteous who prophesized that the infant would redeem the world. The dramatic painting depicts Mary handing the Christ Child to Simeon, the High Priest whose hands are veiled over a red draped altar. Joseph, with hat in his hand, stands behind Simeon. Two females – one kneeling and carrying an offering basket of turtle doves, are seen behind Mary.
Surrounding the music is an elaborate border full of floral décor, portraits, shields, goldfinches (symbol of the Passion of Christ), insects, and butterflies (symbol of the Resurrection of Christ) all on a gold ground. Heraldic symbols are in the four corners and scales are in the center of the bottom margin.
The inhabited “L” begins part of the Canticle of Simeon – Luke 2:32: “Lumen ad…” (A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel).
Shipped unmatted
