Original leaf from a Spanish Sanctoral (Celebration of Saints) on animal parchment. (520 x 343mm – 20.5 x 13.5’’).
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!!!
Spain (probably Northern Spain), circa 1580-1600.
One elaborate illuminated initial (140mm square – 5.5’’ square) in red, blue and green with internal floral design in blue, green and red surrounded by corner decorations in red and green.
Recto announces the Sanctoral for Saint Andrew, Apostle. The illuminated “D” begins “Dominus secus mare galilee vidit [duos fractres Petrum et Andream]” (The Lord, passing Galilee, saw [two brothers Peter and Andrew]).
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
