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!!! This is the opening leaf in a Franciscan Choirbook - evident devotional wear as shown in the photographs. Not visible in the photos are a series of tiny prick marks around the image outline to aid in transfer of the image, and a small hole.
Spain, c. 1475-1500.
Two elaborate knot-work (cadel) initials heightened with yellow two have intricate internal design in violet.
The leaf is dominated by an exceptional historiated initial “A” (6.25x6.25 inches), with a rare depiction of haloed St Clare of Assisi. She wears the typical gray tunic and black veil while holding a monstrance in her right hand and crosier in left. The kneeling woman is likely the donor and holds an open book. The initial is bordered by a floral design on a gold round which all rests on a blue ground. The border surrounding the top and left of the initial continues to the end of the text on the left and contains an elaborate floral design in red, green, blue, pink and with two children – all on a liquid gold ground.
St.Clare was a follower of St Francis of Assissi. She founded the Order of Poor Ladies ( "Poor Clares"), a monastic religious order for women in the Franciscan tradition, and wrote their Rule of Life, the first set of monastic guidelines known to have been written by a woman.
The historiated “A” begins: “Asperges Me…” (Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy).
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. They may also include chants for the ordinary of the Mass: Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and for the introductory ‘asperges’ rite.
Shipped unmatted
