Original leaf from a manuscript Spanish Antiphonal on animal parchment. (690 x 473mm – 27 x 18.75’’)
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.
One exceptional illuminated initial (about 101 x 95mm – 4 x 3.75 ) in red and blue with an elaborate internal and external geometric "puzzle design" (in the Moorish influenced Mudejar style) in intricate red and blue penwork. One elaborate knot-work (cadel) initial in dark brown heightened with yellow.
This leaf continues the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The elaborate “H” begins: “Hodie concept est…” (Today is the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, descended from David…).
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.
Bold calligraphy on an attractive and very large choirbook leaf, some rippling to the parchment.
Shipped unmatted
