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!!! The lower corner shows evidence of having been nibbled – probably by a church mouse.
Spain (probably Northern Spain), circa 1580-1600.
One large illuminated initial in red, and one large initial in red and green.
The illuminated “S” begins Psalm 131 (King James 132) 9-10 “Sacerdotes…” (Let thy priests be clothed with justice: and let thy saints rejoice. For thy servant David’s sake, turn not away the face of thy anointed).
The illuminated “M” begins verse 1: “Memento domine…” (O Lord, remember David, and all his meekness).
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
