c 1470-80 Chant - Elaborate Initial - Hymn for Blessed Sacrament

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Original manuscript leaf from a manuscript Antiphonal. This beautiful four-line stave musical sheet is on animal parchment, written in liturgical gothic script. Six lines of music and text.  (550 x 390mm - 21 5/8 x 15 1/4'').

Italy (Bologna), c. 1470-80.

One exceptional illuminated initial ''O'' in red and green. The interior is a floral design in green, red, blue and sepia on a deep blue ground; the initial sets on a burnished gold ground and continues into the margin.

Two illuminated initials alternating in red with delicate violet penwork and deep blue with delicate red penwork. Numerous initials heightened with yellow.

The elaborately illuminated "O" begins a hymn written by St. Thomas Aquinas honoring the Blessed Sacrament: ''O Sacrum Convivium...'' (O sacred banquet in which Christ is consumed, the memory of his Passion is recalled, our souls are filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory to us is given to us. Alleluia).

Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of the Divine Office: first vespers or the vigil of great feasts, matins, lauds, prime, terce, sext, none, vespers and 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.

Shipped unmatted.

  • Inventory# IM-10509
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