Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Choir (Ferial) Psalter on animal parchment. (550 x 380mm – 21 ¾ x 15 ¼’’)
Manuscript text with music (on a five-line stave) beautifully executed by hand over 450 years ago. Signed by the scribe “L. Ruiz” in one of the initials elsewhere in the parent manuscript!!!
Spain (Dominican Use), c. 1520.
Three illuminated initials (3 x 2’’) alternating in red with intricate violet interior & exterior penwork, & blue with red interior & exterior penwork in geometric and floral design; one one-line illuminated initial in red with blue interior and exterior penwork.
The large illuminated “N” begins Romans 13:12-13 “Nox precessit…” (The night is passed, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day).
The large illuminated “D” opens Psalm 20 (King James 21): “Domine…” (In thy strength, O Lord, the king shall joy).
The large illuminated “M” begins part of Matthew 26:18: “Magister…” (My time is near at hand, with thee I make the pasch with my disciples).
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
