Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Choir (Ferial) Psalter on animal parchment. (550 x 380mm – 21 ¾ x 15 ¼’’)
Eighteen lines of manuscript text with music (on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 450 years ago. Signed by the scribe “L. Ruiz” in one of the initials elsewhere in the parent manuscript!!! Original stitching in the upper margin – still with original thread!
Spain (Dominican Use), c. 1520.
One three-line illuminated initial (3 x 2’’) in blue with intricate red interior and exterior penwork in geometric and floral design; Twelve one-line illuminated initials alternating in red with violet internal & external penwork, & blue with red internal & external penwork.
The first one-line illuminated “E” begins Psalm 37 (King James 38) 13-23: “Et qui…” (And they that sought my soul used violence…They that render evil for good, have detracted me, because I followed goodness. Forsake me not, O Lord my God: do not thou depart from me. Attend unto my help, O Lord, the God of my salvation).
The elaborate illuminated “R” begins “Revela do[mino]” (Reveal to the Lord).
The psalms were central to medieval liturgy, and constituted the core of the Divine Office. In addition to the psalms, a ferial psalter, also known as a choir psalter, contained items of the Divine Office that did not change from day to day, often including the invitatories, antiphons, canticles, short responsories, hymns, and litanies.
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.
Shipped unmatted
