c 1450 Gregorian Chant - Elaborate initials

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Original leaf from a Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (570 x 405mm – 22.5 x 16’’)

The manuscript text & music (six lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand in dark brown ink on a red stave in large gothic hand.

Spain, circa 1450.

One intricate illuminated initial (75 x 55mm – 3 x 2’’) in red and blue with an elaborate internal and external geometric "puzzle design" (in the Moorish influenced Mudejar style) in intricate red penwork; two knot-work (cadel) initials heightened with yellow.

The large knot-work “G” begins the Glory Be: “Gloria…” (Glory be to the Father, now and forevermore, amen).

The illuminated “P” begins “Posuisti…” (Thou hast set on his head, O Lord, a crown of precious stones).

Antiphonals contain 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.

Shipped unmatted

  • Inventory# IM-12835
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