Original leaf from a 15th century Gregorian chant. This musical sheet was executed by hand in manuscript calligraphy on animal parchment. (610x430mm – 23 ½ x 16 ¾’’)
The music and text (six lines written in rounded gothic script) are written in black ink, on a five-line-stave, with headings and rubrics in red.
Spain: Seville, c. 1460-90.
This striking leaf is related to a series of choirbooks attributed to the Master of the Cypresses who illuminated twenty Choirbooks preserved in the Cathedral of Seville. Once thought to be Pedro da Toledo, he is now believed to be Nicolás Gómez – active 1460-90.
Two highly illuminated initials extend the length of the five-line stave and are in burnished gold with and interior floral motif on red or blue ground, resting on an outer rectangular blue or red ground with a delicate floral motif. They extend into the margin in an elegant rinceaux-style border of vines adorned with gold bezants! Two elegant knot-work calligraphic initials heightened with yellow.
The knot-work initial "L" begins Psalm 32 (King James 33) 1: "Laudate..." (Rejoice in the Lord, O ye just: praise becometh the upright).
The elaborate initial "A" begins Alleluia. The knot-work initial "S" begins "Sancti..." (Your saints O Lord* flourish like lilies, alleluia: and like the smell of balsam are before you).
The elaborate initial "L" begins Psalm 31 (KJ 32) 11: "Letamini..." (Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice...).
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
