Original leaf from a large manuscript Spanish Gradual on animal parchment. (533 x 370mm – 21 x 14.5”)
The manuscript text and music (5 lines of music on a five-line stave) were beautifully executed by hand over 500 years ago in the 15th century!!! Spain, c. 1475-1500.
Two elaborate knot-work (cadel) initials heightened with yellow and with very intricate internal design in violet.
This leaf continues the Feast of Corpus Christi (Festo Corporis et Sanguinis Christi) - celebrating the real presence of the body (corpus) of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday (60 days after Easter).
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.
Graduals contain the musical chants for the proper of the Mass: introits, graduals, tracts, alleluia, offertory and communion verses, and sequences for special feasts.
Shipped unmatted
