Original leaf from a large manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (670 x 473mm – 26.5 x 18.75 inches)
The manuscript text and music (five lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand nearly 600 years ago in the 15th century!!!
Spain, circa 1400-1440.
The leaf is embellished with alarge exceptional illuminated initial "A" (105 x 65mm – 4.25 x 3 inches) in intricate red and blue penwork with an elaborate internal and external geometric "puzzle design" in the Moorish influenced Mudejar style. Additionally there are three elaborate knot work (cadel) initials in dark brown ink heightened with yellow.
The elaborate knot-work “I” begins: “Intende pro spere…” (Proceed prosperously and reign.)" The elaborate "G" opens: "Gloria Patri..." (Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit).
The very large illuminated “A” begins: “Adiuvabit…” (God will help her with his countenance).
The elaborate knot-work “B” is a scribal error and should be a “D” (after all that hard work maybe nobody will notice !) and begins: “Deus in medio…” (God is in the midst of her).
Antiphonals contain chants for the canonical hours of Divine Office: first vespers or the 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
