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.
Three large illuminated initials in red, and one large initial illuminated in red and green.
The illuminated “G” opens the Glory Be “Gloria…” (Glory be to the Father and forever more amen.
The illuminated “A” begins “Alleluia”. The illuminated “T” begins Hebrews 5:6: “Tue s sacerdos…” (Thou art a priest forever, according to the order of Melchisedech).
The illuminated “I” begins Psalm 88 (King Jamaes 89) 21: “Inveni david…” (I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him).
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
