c 1470-1490 Gregorian Chant - Italy - Feast of St Vincent Ferrer

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Original leaf from an Italian Antiphonal on animal parchment. (590 x 420mm – 23.25 x 16.5”)

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

Italy (Florence?), c. 1470-1490.

One exceptional large initial in red with internal and external red and blue penwork.

This leaf continues the Feast of Saint Vincent Ferrer . The text begins: “O Vincenti cui arcem…” (O Vincent the choir of angels comes to meet you, applauding you with surpassing honor as you mount to the heights of heaven; lead us who constantly sing your praise to the long-for kingdoms of the blessed.  Alleluia).

The elaborate illuminated “P” begins “Pervigil christi…” (Waiting for Christ).

Closely related in style and size to the initials in a group of leaves from a choirbook known to be illuminated in Florence by Frater Julianus de Florentia (Guliano Amidei?) c.1470. Examples are illustrated in Ferrini, 1987, Catalog One # 60 and Quaritch Medieval Manuscript Leaves, No 50, p 37. 

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. A very attractive leaf with a bold capital initial. Some evidence of devotional wear and a contemporary repair to a defect in the parchment at the inner margin.

Shipped unmatted

  • Inventory# IM-12867
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