Original leaf from a large medieval manuscript illuminated Italian Antiphonal on animal parchment. (630 x 432mm – 24 ¾ x 17’’)
The manuscript text & music (five lines of music on a four-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand in dark brown ink on a red stave in large gothic hand.
The text on verso begins with an exceptional large illuminated initial (157 x 160mm – 6 1/8 x 6 ¼’’) in blue, red, yellow, green, pink with an internal floral motif on a blue ground – all resting on a burnished gold ground.
Northern Italy (possibly Padua), c. 1480-1520.
The elaborate illuminated “V” continues the antiphon for the Hour of Lauds of the Feast of All Saints Day (November 1) with Apocalypse (Revelation) 7:9: “Vidi turbam…” (I saw a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and tribes, and peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne).
Antiphonals are choirbooks that contain Gregorian chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: 1st vespers or vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers & compline.
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.
A strikingly handsome leaf in very fine condition !
Shipped unmatted
